A teenager set a Grade II listed church alight and left it to burn, causing £4.5 million in damage and blighting the hopes of brides planning to be married there.
Daniel Finnerty, 17, of Fleet in Hampshire, destroyed the 153-year-old All Saints Church in Church Road when he sprayed the shape of a cross on the wall near the altar with deodorant and setting it alight on June 22.
Judge Keith Cutler CBE sentenced him to four years in a youth offender institution and three years extended licence.
Winchester Crown Court heard just six days before Finnerty had tried to set alight an ancient bible on the church altar.
Thankfully, a church warden smelled burning and found the smouldering Bible before it set alight.
The court was told as the church went up in flames, a dance class of children aged as young as five were being taught in the hall next door.
Finnerty, who lived near the sacred building, was arrested shortly after the ‘wicked’ incident which destroyed a building ‘at the heart’ of community, Get Hampshire reported.
His ‘chilling’ actions have left the community shattered, the court heard, with Reverend Mark Hayton estimating the cost of damages as £4.5million.
The community has since raised thousands to help pay for it to be rebuilt.
Read more: All Saints Church fire: Teen arrested on suspicion of arson following blaze at Grade II Listed site
He said a memorial book to people who had worshipped there was destroyed in the fire, but the church had no ‘ill feelings’ towards Finnerty and that they were ‘praying for him’.
The court heard the suspect had had a difficult upbringing. He had suffered from ADHD and used cannabis, methedrone and drank alcohol from the age of 15.
Judge Cutler described the incident as ‘chilling’ and added that the photographs of what was left of the church looked ‘horrific’.
He said: “In June of this year you did two very wicked things. On June 16 you went into the church, nearby where you were living in Fleet, and you set light to a bible on top of an altar.
“That did not, fortunately, lead to too much damage. But then a few days later, on June 22, you went back to the church to inspect the damage. And perhaps you were disappointed and decided to try and do better.
“You used a deodorant can, spraying it on the wall in the shape of a cross and then you set light to it and then left it to burn.
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“What you did was highly dangerous. When you did that, next door in the church hall there were young children in a dance class and they might have been put at severe risk.
“The photographs of the church look horrific. It is a charred, empty shell of a parish church in the heart of Fleet where people have got married and attended weddings and events.
“Your actions struck an appalling blow to the community. It is very chilling to hear what the reverend said about how the whole community has been impacted by this crime.”
Richard Onslow, prosecuting, said: “All Saints Church in Fleet stood proudly for just over 150 years and it was designed by William Burges in the Victorian era.
“It was one of only three remaining churches of his in this country and was of great local importance.
“The church was popular for weddings and greatly used for funerals and christenings. It was kept open for the use of members of the public and for proper purposes.”
Mr Onslow added: “On Mondays a dance class uses the church hall. Children attending the class are of a variety of ages and some are aged around five or six years old.”
The court heard the teacher announced to the class that the church was on fire and they quickly evacuated the building.
Katherine Kelleher, defending, said: “This is a very troubled and ill young man and his behaviour grew out of control.
“Through me, he apologies for what he has done and he is very sorry.”
Finnerty admitted one count of arson and one count of arson being reckless as to whether life is in danger.
Following the sentence, Sharon Douglass, Senior Crown Prosecutor for the CPS Wessex, said: “Finnerty destroyed not only the hopes of the brides who had planned to get married in this beautiful church but seriously damaged a Grade II listed building.
“The cost of repair has been estimated to run into millions and many items such as paintings cannot be replaced.
“It has left a community heartbroken to see their beloved church, which had held so many memories for them, destroyed.”
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