Nursery garden fireraiser sold bike to fund repairs

The teenager who torched a nursery garden in Dunfermline sold his bike and arrived at court with £250 in cash to cover the damage.

The 16-year-old appeared at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court in August and admitted wilful fireraising at an outdoor learning area attached to Pitreavie Primary.

On October 30 the boy set fire to fence panelling around the Glenbervie Grove garden.

The flames engulfed the panels and spread to wooden play structures within the nursery garden, damaging them extensively.

The damage, thought to have cost in the region of £1,000 to repair, extended to a mud kitchen, fence panels and other play structures.

The teenager arrived at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court yesterday prepared to pay some of the costs.

His defence solicitor Calum Gordon said: “He has sold his bike to raise funds.

“He’s got £250 cash on him today. He did want to raise as much as he could.”

However, Sheriff James Williamson explained he did not wish to issue the boy with a financial penalty.

Instead, he placed the youth on a community payback order – an 18month supervision period.

Police used videos of the blaze, which were posted on social media, as part of their investigation to catch the young culprit.

The school janitor also contacted police after reviewing the school’s own CCTV footage.

It showed three people at the scene.

A fundraising appeal was launched by local people following the fire.

Within days it raised more than £3,000 to replace and repair structures and play equipment.

Speaking at the time, head teacher Debbie Broadley said: “Our close community is devastated by the damage caused to our school environment.

“The nursery children’s play space was ruined thanks to the antisocial behaviour of these individuals who have no idea of the distress they have caused.”

She said the fact the fire did not spread to the main school building was “little consolation to the children who love to spend time outdoors”.

Members of the community got involved in a major clear-up operation after the blaze.

A temporary place for outdoor play and learning was also created.

Parent council chairwoman Sasha Pender set up a fundraising page to help the school recover.

She said: “The staff have worked tirelessly to provide an outdoor learning space for the children and in a second it has been destroyed.

“Due to Covid, the outdoor learning area is needed now more than ever.

“The staff at Pitreavie have been overwhelmed by the support they have received and the money will allow the nursery to rebuild the best garden they can for the children.”

He’s got £250 cash on him today. He did want to raise as much as he could

DAMAGE: The play equipment in the outdoor learning area at Pitreavie Primary school in Dunfermline was destroyed by the blaze in October.