Anger at eight-year-old arsonists
A Preston business owner has spoken out after learning
eight-year-olds who started a fire at his premises will face no action
A businessman today spoke of his astonishment that the eight-year-old boys who started a serious fire at his premises will face no action.
Martin Ogdin, 56, who runs PDS Plastics site in Springfield Street, Plungington, says the blaze last Friday has cost him thousands of pounds after it ripped through two container units. Stock was destroyed and a company car was written off.
Two eight-year-old boys were quizzed in connection with the blaze, but were later released – as no-one under the age of 10 can be charged with a criminal offence.
A spokesman for Lancashire police today confirmed no one else is being sought in connection with the blaze.
Mr Ogdin is furious that no one will be brought to account for the damage and says the youngsters are being treated like "gods".
He said: "I'm absolutely astonished.It is a cliche but you have to think the parents are to blame and I think if the kids can't be held to account, their parents should be.
"Someone should be made to pay so these kids can't just carry on doing this. There is no discipline any more. The schools don't discipline them, the police and the law can't, so what is to stop them running around doing what the hell they want? They are almost like gods. No-one can touch them and they know it."
The company, which employs one other person, is still trading despite the fire and Mr Ogdin has pledged they will not be defeated by the incident. He added: "We are still here, we are still open and we always will be."