An Exmouth teenager who committed arson and burglary at Ashton Court Hotel has been given a referral order by a youth court.

Court documents say the 14-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, “destroyed by fire table settings and candles” of an unknown value at the hotel on Louisa Terrace on March 4, 2024.

The items belonged to hotelier Paul Nightingale.

The next day, the teenager trespassed into the hotel’s kitchen with intent to steal.

The court also heard that he was concerned in the supply of cannabis (a class B drug) in Exmouth between January and March, contravening the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

He indicated a guilty plea to all three offences when he appeared at Exeter Law Courts on Thursday, August 22.

Exeter Law Courts.Exeter Law Courts.

Magistrates have ordered the teenager’s family to pay £50 in compensation to Mr Nightingale for the damage caused in the arson attack.

They must also pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £26 surcharge to fund victim services by September 12.

The offender's phone has been taken away from him for six months.

He has also been handed a six-month referral order.

Referral orders aim to prevent re-offending by making sure the young person is aware of the impact and consequences of their crime.

Explaining how they work, a spokesperson for Devon County Council said: “A referral order is a way of dealing with young people between 10 and 17 years old who have appeared in court for the first time and have pleaded guilty to the offence.

“The young person is ordered to appear before a referral order panel accompanied by their parents or carers.

“Referral order panel meetings involve specially trained volunteer panel members, the young person and their parents or carers, a Youth Justice Service worker and in many cases the victim of the offence.

“All parties meet to negotiate a contract of reparation (payback) to the victim or community and a programme of work to address offending behaviour.”