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Teen jailed for revenge arson causing ã50k damage to Northwood Hills pub
A TEENAGER will spend Christmas behind bars after causing ã50,000 of damage to a Northwood Hills pub in a revenge arson attack.
Daniel Card (pictured), 19, of Copthall Road East, Ickenham, was jailed for 16 months at Harrow Crown Court today (23) after admitting to setting fire to The Woodman pub on February 24 this year.
Prosecuting, Jessica Deuchar told the court that prior to the blaze, Card recently started drinking at the pub and Woody's Bar, both in Joel Street and owned by Alan Coleshill.
He got to know Mr Coleshill and at Woody's Bar on February 23, asked if he could borrow a set of speakers in the hope of setting up a DJ business - a request which was refused.
Mr Coleshill left Woody's Bar at about 10.45pm to close up The Woodman. He returned to the bar and saw Card leaving at about 1am.
At about 4.38am, Card informed the fire brigade that The Woodman was ablaze. He said he had seen smoke coming from the back of the pub while he was on his way home, and that a window had been smashed. He also said he checked that no one was inside the building at the time.
But the court heard the fire brigade was not satisfied with Card's story and called the police.
An investigation found the fire had been started in a deep fat fryer inside the pub kitchen, where two empty bottles of Smirnoff Ice were found. Another three bottles were discovered in the bar area.
Forensic tests revealed DNA on the bottles matched Card's, plus glass samples taken from the broken window matched fragments found in his jacket.
During a police interview, Card, who has previous convictions for class A drug possession and taking a vehicle without consent, maintained his original story - but later admitted starting the blaze.
The fire caused an estimated ã50,000 worth of damage, including loss of earnings, as the kitchen was unusable for a month.
Representing Card, Roger Daniells-Smith told the court: "This is a 19-year-old lad who was very drunk and upset about not being able to borrow the speakers.
"He is very young for 19 and rather naïve. He didn't foresee the consequences of what he had done.
"This was a drink-fuelled act of stupidity, which was also the case when he was previously convicted.
"He has a tiny frame for a young man and alcohol has a devastating effect on his system."
But His Honour Judge Greenwood said he had no option other than to impose a custodial sentence. Card will spend half of his sentence in a young offenders' institute, and the remainder on licence.
Sentencing, he told Card: "There is no escaping from the fact that this is a serious offence, and I'm sure you realise that yourself.
"You caused significant damage, probably because you were very cross that Mr Coleshill wouldn't lend you the speakers.
"ã50,000 is a lot of money for someone to lose and as you are unable to pay compensation, you must be punished."
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This is well bad I cant believe it but he very immature and stupid to ring the police hes bringing the area down is what I say.
Wow, what an idiot! Throw away the key! Big Winston on G wing will deal with him!
i cant believe he actually admitted this after he told me that he didnt do it and promised me he wasnt lying. i treated him like a brother and did so much for him to get it thrown back in my face. cant beleive this.
Another bright star.
They are a very rough family no respect for anyone if it's not one it's the other causing trouble they are all not street wise and simple
Behind bars at chrstmas, that's a tough gig. I can't understand why someone would do that to themselves over some speakers. That man was only trying to run a business. It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. Ihope the lad finds Jesus, he has his whole life ahead of him.
That's a tough gig - Christmas behind bars. Why do that to yourself for some speakers? And that man was only trying to run a business. I hope the lad opens his mind and finds Jesus, he has his whole life ahead of him.
Very simple lad he's more like like in his early teens than late teens very simple
YOU SHOULD ALL FIND OUT THE FULL STORY BEFORE YOU START SAYING THING`S TAKE A LOOK AT THE LANDLORD THEY`S MORE TO THIS THEN WHAT THE PAPER SAY??? DON`T BELIEVE ALL WHAT YOU READ
true say find out the full story before u start judging him hes a nice guy and u all dnt know him like i do love ya forever daniel card x
this is the truth he will not be welcome in the area ever agin and you dont even no him like i do
I'm curious as to what the "true story" is meant to be? Also, it is not fair to call the landlord into disrepute. The fact is he broke in and set fire to a grade II listed building that could've been destroyed forever let alone could have killed someone- including himself, in the process. It's a shame he didn't have anything more constructive to do- the speaker thing is totally irrelanvant and not wholly accurate either. How can that action be justified by anyone? Wrong is wrong.
So what's the true story? You should back that up if you want to call anyone else's character into question. He broke in, he started the fire himself- as simple as that.
I drink ih both pubs,The landlord gave him drinks alnight for free and this is not the only lad thats been given drinks for free and then later been arrested for something happening in one off his pubs so look again at the landlord and his family there is more to this then what you read ???.
I drink ih both pubs,The landlord gave him drinks alnight for free and this is not the only lad thats been given drinks for free and then later been arrested for something happening in one off his pubs so look again at the landlord and his family there is more to this then what you read ???.
If you drink in both pubs you'd know that is absolutely ridiculous that is not the sort of person the landlord is I think that is out of line. He works hard and is as straight as they come. It's wrong- you're encouraging that lad not to take responsibility for his own actions as sad as it is to face he did it and is facing the consequence for it I only hope he can turn his life around I didn't think he was a bad kid either. PS who's the other arrest I'm in both places a fair bit that's news to me.
I will make sure that he does not drink in northwood hills or rusilip again i will b sending flyers with his face on it
hahahahahahahaaa hahah
DON`T WORRY DAN IF THIS WARREN PUTS 1 FLYER OUT HE WILL BE IN TROUBLE??
he is so ugly it's unreal
i think your all bloody nieve if your sticking up for this asbo! what idiot starts a fire and then tries robbing the gaff!!
and DON`T WORRY DAN IF THIS WARREN PUTS 1 FLYER OUT HE WILL BE IN TROUBLE??
January 26, 2011 11:26 AM
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is that a threat as if it is your just as bloody bad!!
hope he gets sent down a long time with other northwood hills asbos!!!! and thats coming from a 25 yr old whos knows the area very well!!! send him down
p.s he looks really innocent!! NOT
ive got kids this boi needs to be deported