Teen arsonist sentenced for chalet fire in Oxhey (From Watford Observer)

Teen arsonist sentenced for chalet fire in Oxhey

12:10pm Tuesday 1st December 2009

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A teenage drug addict who stole from a garden chalet in Oxhey Village and then set it on fire to cover his tracks has been sent to a young offenders' institution.

Ron Dillingham and his family, who live in Villiers Road, were woken one night to find their summerhouse covered in flames.

Valuable music memorabilia and other items including a tracksuit worn by former England manager Graham Taylor and a jacket belonging to Elton John were lost in the blaze.

A Washburn acoustic guitar and a rare six-string banjo were stolen from the building.

St Albans Crown Court heard on Friday that Jordan Curtis had stolen the instruments from the building and then set it on fire.

The owner awoke to find the building ablaze and all his items were lost at a total cost of £7,500.

Gavin Pottinger, prosecuting, said Mr Dillingham was "upset and angry" at what had happened because he had invested time and money in building the chalet and his music collection.

Curtis was arrested after he tried to sell on the instruments he had taken.

The 19-year-old was also charged with a robbery on August 11 when he punched a man walking in Radlett Park and took his iPod and mobile phone. The victim was not badly hurt as he said "they were not very good punches".

Curtis pleaded guilty to arson and robbery on Friday and also asked for six other theft and criminal damage offences to be taken into consideration.

These all occurred on the same night, August 1, when he stole from sheds and tried to break into homes in Capel Road, Oxhey.

Robin Griffith, defending, said Curtis' offending was all motivated by his drug habit.

He said Curtis had had an “annus horribilis” after family circumstances had led to him leaving his mother's home in Watford and he had turned to drugs. He began staying at the Watford YMCA but is now of no fixed address.

He had started a plasterers course but was unable to complete it after being arrested and taken into custody.

Mr Griffith said Curtis was keen to have a fresh start and wanted to move away from Watford to do this.

Sentencing Curtis to 24 months in a young offenders' institute, Judge John Plumstead condemned him for his inconsiderate behaviour.

He told him the robbery must have been a "frightening experience" for the victim while the arson attack led to the retired man not only being out of pocket, but losing items that were irreplaceable and of sentimental value.

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