Arsonists get three-and-a-half years

TWO Warrington teenagers who set fire to a nationally important Grade II listed barn in Orford have each been sentenced to three-and-a-half years detention at Chester Crown Court today.
Joshua Johnson, aged 18 from Hindle Avenue, Warrington and Ryan Buckley, aged 18 from Massey Avenue, Warrington, bpoth pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to the charge of committing arson recklessly at an earlier hearing.
Sentencing the pair, Recorder Mr Simon Killeen said: “You were both involved in destroying a large property by fire which you did deliberately, reckless as to whether life was endangered. You put at risk the lives of many, many people, firefighters who serve their community and put their lives on the line daily.”
The fire was started on March 12 last year, just before 8.30 in the evening. Firefighters went to a report of a blaze in a barn on School Road in Orford and were confronted by a very serious and well developed fire within the building. Due to the severity of the incident additional fire appliances, including a hydraulic platform, were requested to attend. At its height the fire was tackled by more than 30 firefighters and caused some £500,000 worth of damage.
Mark Pollard, a Community Fire Protection Officer in Warrington and also a Watch Manager at Birchwood Fire Station, was one of the first on the scene. He said: “This arson attack was of a very serious nature and has been particularly damaging to the local community and its heritage. Cheshire Fire and Rescue service takes all arson and deliberate fire activity very seriously.
“We welcome today’s sentencing and we will continue to investigate occurrences robustly and work with our partners with in Cheshire Police to ensure positive outcomes and ultimately reduce the level of this unacceptable activity within our community.”
The surrounding community was affected. Residents in nearby Primrose Close and School Road were evacuated from their homes by Police due to gas cylinders being directly involved in the fire and roads in the area remained closed for most of the night.
PC Jayne Drum, of Warrington Central Neighbourhood Policing Unit, said: “Arson is a serious crime and we hope that the sentence handed down to the two defendants serves as a warning to others that anyone involved in this type of crime will be caught and punished for their actions.
“In this particular case a fire was deliberately started in a barn close to many other properties in the heart of a residential area. It is fortunate that no-one was injured as a result but the consequences could have potentially been far worse had the fire spread further and to other buildings in the area.
“Officers from Warrington Central NPU carried out a thorough investigation into the incident, which resulted in the two arrests. We hope that the custodial sentences imposed on the pair will give them the time to reflect upon their actions.
“We are committed to tackling arson incidents in the area and will continue to work alongside our colleagues at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.
“We want to reassure members of the local community that we take any incidents of this nature seriously and will do all we can to trace those responsible and ensure they are brought to justice.”
The barn fire resulted in the total loss of a nationally important heritage asset. Believed to date from the early eighteenth century, Grade II listed Orford Farm barn still had many original features, including stone sett and flag floors as well as animal stables and troughs. This building, now destroyed, was an important example of the both Cheshire’s and England’s architectural heritage, representing important local traditions and helping to tell the story of our agricultural past.
Anna Boxer, Inspector of Historic Buildings and Areas at English Heritage in the North West said: “Buildings of special architectural and historic interest are a fragile, finite and irreplaceable resource. The fire last year resulted in the complete and total loss of this significant building, and so in the loss of an important part of Cheshire’s history.”
Mark Harrison, National Policing and Crime Advisor at English Heritage added: “English Heritage takes heritage crime extremely seriously. We work closely with police and fire services and local authorities to prevent crime and, where necessary, we will take enforcement action and bring offenders to justice.”