KEY POINTS:
"It's one of my biggest regrets. I'm never going to make a mistake like that ever again."
Standing in front of Judge Brian Callaghan in Christchurch Youth Court, the 16-year-old yesterday described the night of hijinks with fireworks that caused $70,000 damage to a teaching block at Burnside High School.
He has sent a letter of apology to the school and his family has paid $30,000 into a lawyer's trust account from which to pay his share of the damage. The figures are still being settled.
But the boy admitted his part in the pre-Guy Fawkes night skylarking when fireworks were placed in a rubbish wheelie bin next to the school block, late one night. The wheelie bin fire took hold on the building and he and another boy were charged with arson.
The court was told two boys were involved - the other one is going through the Youth Court system separately and his family group conference is being held next week - and they were drunk at the time.
The boy's father told the court he did not believe his son was malicious and had been a responsible driver for the past year.
"I take a degree of responsibility myself. I was aware of the fact that he had fireworks but I was more concerned about injury - I really hadn't expected him to have done something so stupid."
Judge Callaghan said he had considered sending the matter to the District Court, where adult penalties apply, because of the amount of damage. But police prosecutor Jim Read said the police thought it should remain in the Youth Court and the judge agreed.
Police youth aid officer Mike Wall said the family would continue to impose a curfew on the boy but there was no problem about the two friends contacting each other any more.
"Both boys are from outstanding families. This is one of his friends who he does click with."
It will take four months for the boy to work through the conditions of the sentencing plan accepted by the judge, after the report from the boy's family group conference.
The plan involves him doing 120 hours of community service. He has to do a fire awareness and intervention programme, and his progress will be reported to the court. He has also been referred to a social worker for alcohol and drug assessment.
Youth advocate Pip Hall said it was a case of using fireworks irresponsibly, and stupid hijinks causing the damage rather than a deliberate attack on the school.
"Skylarking like this can have substantial and enormous repercussions for everyone," said Judge Callaghan.
The boy has never been in trouble before and Mr Read said the police expected never to see him again.
- NZPA
