A TEENAGE arsonist who caused £40,000 worth of damage after starting a fire in a part-built house as a prank has walked free from court.

The youngster, who is now 16, started the blaze on a new housing estate in Deal in May last year.

Canterbury Crown Court heard how flames spread to two other properties belonging to Good Deal Homes.

The teenager, who cannot be named for legal reasons, wept throughout the 30-minute hearing after pleading guilty to arson. The court heard how he had gone into the house looking for petrol to steal and before leaving, had set fire to a piece of plastic and thrown it inside one of the partially-built properties.

By the time firefighters had arrived the three buildings were well alight, and the damage cost the builders £40,000 in repairs. Danny Moore, defending, said no one was injured in the fire and since the incident, the teenager had gone with his mother to speak to fire chiefs to try and understand why he had done it.

He added that at the time the youngster was truanting from school and had been drinking alcohol before starting the fire. “This was a prank that escalated out of control. He had drifted in with a group of youngsters who were prone to anti-social behaviour. He has since readjusted his life and had returned to school,” added Mr Moore.

Judge Nigel Van der Bijl, in placing the teenager under supervision for two years, said he accepted the incident was a "juvenile prank that went wrong".