Teenager denies arson attack on Brandon recycling centre

A teenager was involved in starting a fire which caused almost �400,000 damage at a plastic recycling factory in Brandon, it has been alleged.

David Allison, 19, is claimed to have been one of three teenagers who used lighters to ignite waste plastic in the rear of a lorry trailer parked outside Chase Plastics on the Brandon Industrial Estate on February 20.

The blaze spread to the recycling plant which was badly damaged, prosecutor Lori Tucker told a jury at Ipswich Crown Court yesterday

Allison, of Peppers Close, Weeting, has pleaded not guilty to two offences of arson, one involving the lorry trailer and one involving the factory building.

The court was told that a 19-year-old from Weeting and a 15-year-old from the Brandon area have pleaded guilty to the same two offences and will be sentenced at a later date.

Ms Tucker alleged that Allison and the other two teenagers had met up and driven to the industrial estate in London Road, Brandon.

It was there that Allison had suggested looking inside the lorry trailer for cardboard boxes which could be burned, she claimed.

A fourth youth, aged 17 and who cannot be named for legal reasons, said he had also been in the car when it arrived outside Chase Plastics.

Giving evidence, the boy said he had seen Allison and the two who have admitted arson standing by the lorry trailer with lighters in their hands.

The youth said he told them to stop, but was threatened by the 19-year-old. Afterwards they had driven off, first to a car park opposite Brandon fire station and then to an area of high ground from where they could clearly see the fire.

In a statement, a worker at Chase Plastics told how he had seen flames shooting higher than the perimeter fence and then heard two loud bangs, which he believed may have been the trailer tyres exploding.

When arrested, Allison had initially refused to answer police questions, but later said it had been the other two youths who had started the fire. He denied having approached the trailer.

The trial continues.