Boy running away from children's home sentenced for Preston social club arson blaze
A boy running away from a children’s home has been sentenced for starting a fire at a derelict social club in Preston.
The teenager was handed a community-based sentence after pleading guilty to starting the fire at the former Friargate Social Club in Maudland Bank on September 4 last year.
He was one of two boys, aged 15 and 13, arrested and later charged with arson with the intent to endanger life, and arson with recklessness as to whether life would be endangered.
They were arrested after CCTV captured two youths fleeing the derelict building moments before it was found engulfed in flames. They were identified as absconders from a children’s home.
One of the boys - who cannot be named due to his age - pleaded guilty to two counts of arson and three counts of criminal damage when he appeared at Preston Magistrates’ Court on November 18.
He was issued with a Youth Offending Team Referral Order - a community-based sentence for young offenders. The order was issued on November 18, 2025 and will expire on November 27, 2026.
No evidence was found that the second boy was involved in starting the fire and he was not prosecuted.