Boy admits setting bus on fire with Ribena carton

A teenage boy has admitted causing a double decker bus to catch fire in Bradford city centre in 2023.

The 16-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to endanger life at a youth court on 25 November.

He admitted setting a carton of Ribena on fire and leaving it on the top deck of the bus.

The boy is due to be sentenced at Bradford Crown Court on 23 December.

CCTV footage showed in court that the bus caught fire from the top deck while people were still aboard.

Fazaila Kauser, the boy's defence solicitor, said he accepts that the Ribena carton "started to bubble" and "he accepts that's what started the fire".

"He didn't realise it was that serious at that point," she said.

The boy has previous good character and no previous convictions, the court heard.

Shamaila Quereshi, prosecuting, said the "significant damage" of the fire cost First Bus £128,500.

The fire also damaged a nearby bus stop, the court heard.

Magistrate Richard Quayle told the teenager that the crime he admitted to committing was so serious he would need to be sentenced at crown court.

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