I pleaded with officers not to charge fire kid
Restaurant owner still hopes to help 13-year-old suspect
THE owner of a restaurant targeted by young firebugs has revealed he pleaded in vain with police not to press charges. Police Scotland confirmed yesterday that a 13-year-old boy has been charged in connection with alleged fire-raising at the Fennel Restaurant in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire, on Sunday. Boss William Bird made headlines by offering a job to the suspects if they owned up to their recklessness. He held out an olive branch to the likely culprits, who were captured on CCTV. Instead, one of the suspects gave himself up after apparently being frog-marched to a police station by his angry mum.
When contacted by the Record and told that the youngster had been charged, William said: “It’s a shame.
“We phoned the police when they told us they had someone and explained that was the last thing we wanted.
“We said that if our opinion counted for anything, we certainly wouldn’t want to press with me. I said I’d be more than happy to sit with him and she said she’d really like for us to do that.” William said his job offer was still on the table depending on the outcome of the legal process. He said: “We stand by our word. It was never about getting anyone into trouble. It was about looking at things in a different way.” Police said the teenager would be reported to the youth justice management unit. Sergeant Sandra Crighton added: “I would like to thank members of the community for their information and help with this particular investigation. “Our inquiries are continuing and I would urge any further witnesses, or anyone with additional information which they think could help, to contact us on 101 – or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if they want to remain anonymous.”
To kids who tried to set fire to my restaurant ..
any charges at all – as long as the people involved realised the seriousness of what might have happened.”
Now, despite the teenager facing the youth justice system, William hopes he can still help to keep the boy on the straight and narrow.
He said: “As it happens, I have actually spoken to the boy’s mum as she got in touch with me directly.
“I believe she marched him in herself and then got in touch
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