The two teenage arsonists who left a “trail of wanton destruction" during a five-month arson spree in Maxey and the surrounding areas were jailed for their criminal activities in December 2007.

Adam Camp (18) of Greenacres, Werrington, and Daniel Graham (18) of Danish Court, Werrington, caused around £72,000-worth of damage in the spate of attacks, Peterborough Crown Court heard.

They set fire to the thatched roof of a property in School Lane, Maxey while the residents were at home as well as a section of leylandii hedging, the court was told, and torched Peakirk Waterfowl Gardens three times, leaving the owners with a £55,000 repair bill.

Camp, who had pleaded guilty to three arson offences committed with Graham and one alone, was sentenced to 18 months in prison after asking for one similar offence to be taken into consideration.

Graham, who had also admitted the joint arson attacks and four as an individual, asked for 11 matters to be taken into consideration. He was jailed for 24 months.

Arsonists jailed - Adam Camp (left) and Daniel Graham - sentenced to 18 months and 24 months, respectively. Right sidebar photos (top) - Peakirk Wildfowl Trust Centre - repeatedly targeted by Camp & Graham (bottom) - hedgerow torched in Maxey (© maxey.co.uk). Others © peterboroughtoday.co.uk

Prosecuting, Mark Hurd said the waterfowl gardens were first hit by Graham acting alone on 13 August 2006. He set the café alight, causing £20,000 of damage and leaving it "totally destroyed".

Towards the end of the month, the pair started a blaze inside a toilet block at the gardens, leaving the owners with another £20,000 bill.
And they were back there again on 6 January 2007, breaking a window to get into the main building and setting a fire in a cupboard, adding another £15,000 to the total.
They also burned down a 20-feet stretch of boundary hedge in Lincoln Road, Glinton, together.

Mr Hurd said that on 28 October 2006, Graham was acting alone when he caused a small fire in the thatched roof of a property in School Lane, Maxey. The owners were home and were able to put out the flames after a passer-by alerted them.

Graham was also solely responsible for burning down a summer house in a rear garden in Mill Road, Maxey, worth £8,000 to £10,000 on 26 September 2006.

And five weeks after that, he brazenly bought a lighter at the post office in Glinton and used it to start a fire in a bin outside.

Mr Hurd said Camp's solo arson was in Deeping Gate, where a fire left 10 shrubs at the edge of a property ruined.

CCTV evidence and descriptions given to the Police led to the arrest of the pair on 9 January 2007 by one of our own rural beat bobbies, Dave Williams.

Defending Camp, Richard Craven said his offences were "committed out of boredom" during a period of unemployment and were not the result of an "obsession with fire".

Defending Graham, Hugh Vass said he did not pose a serious risk to the public and had also kept out of trouble since the attacks.

Sentencing, Judge Nicholas Coleman said: "This was fire-starting over a relatively wide area for a long period of time and might be described as a trail of wanton destruction."