A 17-year-old from Taunton has pleaded guilty to deliberately setting fire to seven specially adapted minibuses at the Silk Mills Park and Ride site. The teenager was arrested on Sunday, April 27, and charged with multiple offences including arson, affray, criminal damage, and assault.
Specifically, the charges include two counts of arson for igniting an Audi A1 on April 25 and the minibuses on April 26. Additionally, he was charged with affray, criminal damage to two cars, and assault by beating an emergency worker, all occurring on April 27.
The incident resulted in significant damage to the vehicles, which are owned by Somerset Council and serve children and people with disabilities. SomersetLive reported that the fire caused shattered windows, melted tyres, and irreparable damage totaling tens of thousands of pounds.
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Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue confirmed that multiple calls reported the blaze at the Silk Mills Park and Ride. Upon arrival, fire crews deployed additional engines, used breathing apparatus, hose reel jets, and thermal imaging cameras to control the fire. Four minibuses were completely destroyed, while three others suffered partial fire damage. Fortunately, no injuries were reported.
The teenager appeared before North Somerset Magistrates' Court on April 29, where he admitted all six offences. Magistrates have remanded him into youth detention ahead of a sentencing hearing scheduled for May 29 at Taunton Magistrates' Court.