11:38am Saturday 28th November 2009
By Neil Hunter
A TEENAGE arsonist who destroyed a community centre in a late-night attack was last night starting a five-year sentence behind bars.
David Binns, 18, broke into the Golden Boy Green complex in South Bank, near Middlesbrough, with friend Ben Benstead, 15, and looted it.
Binns then started a fire in a soft-play room and the pair fled the centre taking computers, monitors, a cash till and a computer games system.
At the time of the £1m arson attack, Binns was on a fourmonth crime spree that included nearly 40 other offences.
Teesside Crown Court was told yesterday that he was given bail after the fire – and went on to steal from a lorry driver’s cab and a pub within three weeks.
On April 18, he broke into Eston Park School, stole computers and left a trail of damage found by staff after the Easter break.
When arrested again in June, Binns confessed to a further 34 unsolved burglaries and thefts between January and April.
Benstead was arrested half an hour after the arson – after breaking into a nearby bungalow and stealing a mobility scooter and jewellery.
The pair were told by Judge Peter Fox that they had robbed a community of a much-needed facility that will cost £500,000 to rebuild.
The centre housed a cafe, internet cafe and sports facilities, and offered families training courses, support groups and benefits advice.
Rupert Doswell, prosecuting, said the complex – owned by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council – cost £1m to build and equip.
Brian Russell, mitigating, said Binns had been in trouble since he was 12, but was finally realising the impact his offending had on others.
Tom Mitchell, for Benstead, said the then-schoolboy had drunk half a bottle of white rum and smoked cannabis before the attack.
Imposing a two-year detention and training order on Benstead, Judge Fox told him: “It is the maximum penalty, and you richly deserve it.”
The judge told Binns: “This has to be looked at in the context of it being part of a spate of serious offending.”
Binns, of South Terrace, South Bank, admitted three burglaries, arson and theft and asked for a further 34 offences to be taken into account.
Benstead, of Redcar Road East, South Bank, admitted two burglaries.
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