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Blackpool's Donna's Dream House fire: Two youths detained | Blackpool's Donna's Dream House fire: Two youths detained |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Two 19-year-olds who admitted setting fire to a holiday home for terminally ill children have been detained at a young offenders institution. | |
Police said Cairn Major, of Tyldesley Avenue, Blackpool, set fire to Donna's Dream House in Blackpool to cover up burgling it on 21 December 2011. | Police said Cairn Major, of Tyldesley Avenue, Blackpool, set fire to Donna's Dream House in Blackpool to cover up burgling it on 21 December 2011. |
He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years detention at Preston Crown Court for arson and two counts of burglary. | He was sentenced to five-and-a-half years detention at Preston Crown Court for arson and two counts of burglary. |
Jason Baxendale, of Blackpool, was given 32 months' detention for arson. | |
Baxendale, of Granville Avenue, pleaded not guilty to two counts of burglary and the CPS offered no evidence in court. | Baxendale, of Granville Avenue, pleaded not guilty to two counts of burglary and the CPS offered no evidence in court. |
£100,000 damage | |
Lancashire Police said Baxendale had acted as "lookout" during the robbery and did not enter the property. | Lancashire Police said Baxendale had acted as "lookout" during the robbery and did not enter the property. |
Items stolen in the burglary included several cameras, projectors, CCTV monitors, laptops and phones. | Items stolen in the burglary included several cameras, projectors, CCTV monitors, laptops and phones. |
The blaze, estimated to have caused more than £100,000 damage, destroyed the office, hot tubs and sauna at the site and forced the charity home to close for almost three months. | |
The founder of Donna's Dream House, Len Curtis, said it was a relief the case was over. | |
He set up the charity in 1999 in memory of his daughter Donna, who died of cancer in 1996 at the age of 20. | |
Mr Curtis said: "Although we have had tremendous support, it has taken its toll on us as a family." | |
Det Con Phil Palmer said he hoped the sentences made the offenders realise the impact of their actions. | Det Con Phil Palmer said he hoped the sentences made the offenders realise the impact of their actions. |
"The break-in and subsequent fire caused the charity a serious setback and prevented very ill children and their families from enjoying a holiday together," he said. | "The break-in and subsequent fire caused the charity a serious setback and prevented very ill children and their families from enjoying a holiday together," he said. |
"These holidays are precious to these families and are something that cannot be replaced." | "These holidays are precious to these families and are something that cannot be replaced." |