A teenager who caused £30,000 of damage to a Tunbridge Wells house after torching a wheelie-bin, has walked free from court.

The flames spread to the roof of a property lived in by a 67-year-old pensioner with mobility problems.

The blaze was started by Shane Blowers in Bramble Walk, Laurel Road on June 17, 2019.

The 19-year-old father-of-one - who is expecting to be homeless - will have to do 200 hours of unpaid work for the community.

Prosecutor William McBarnet said: "A wheelie bin had been set alight, the fire set alight wooden fencing and a gate and spread up to the roof, causing a gas pipe to rupture.

"As a result nearby houses also had to be evacuated for several hours."

"It was a matter of showing off, being stupid but he clearly didn't mean to cause the damage which was caused..."

Trevor Murphy, 67, who uses a walking stick and mobility scooter to get around, was sleeping in his front room at the time.

Mr McBarnet said the roof above his bedroom caught alight and he escaped through his front door after being alerted by neighbours.

Mr Murphy, who lost a number of sentimental items in the blaze, later told police that the flames were so large he would have been unable to leave via the back door.

Blowers, who was with another male and two females - had been seen by one of Mr Murphy's neighbours.

Mr Murphy later said: "I am very angry about what happened. It was a very stupid and dangerous thing to do. I was lucky I was asleep in my front room and not my bedroom at the time."

James Elvidge, defending, said Murphy has a "joker personality" because of being bullied.

"It was a matter of showing off, being stupid but he clearly didn't mean to cause the damage which was caused. He is extremely remorseful."

Blowers, of East Hill, Dartford admitted arson and received a 14 month jail sentence suspended for 18 months.

Mr Elvidge added that Blowers, his girlfriend and their three-month child, face being homeless as the owner of the property they are renting is selling up.

He asked the judge to show him mercy.

Judge Julian Smith told him his behaviour had been "crassly stupid and had serious consequences."

"The moment you set fire to something you lose control. You set fire in a bin and it got out of control and then you walked away.

"This was not mere stupidity because real risk was caused."

At the time, Becky Lavender who lives near the property said: "It was started right above a gas line for the houses so firefighters had to evacuate everyone.

"You could smell the gas, where there was a leak. I was at work at the time, but my partner and my other neighbour helped the elderly man out.

"He was asleep at the time and luckily the alarm was raised and he wasn't hurt. He has lost everything because of this and nobody deserves that, it makes me so cross."

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