A MAN damaged the door of the Red and Black Social Club at Tavistock, an incident that took place on the same night a fire almost destroyed the building.
Plymouth magistrates last Week heard that Stuart Nicholls, aged 20, broke into Tavistock Football Club on the night that a devastating blaze broke out. Nicholls was not charged in connection with the fire at Langsford Park – which started when someone set light to a waste bin.
But presiding magistrate Paula Skillin told him: 'Perhaps if your action had not taken place, there may not have been the temptation for someone to go in there and start the fire.'
Nicholls, of Eldad Hill, Stonehouse, admitted causing criminal damage to the wooden door on February 2.
Magistrates gave him a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered that he pay the £150 compensation for the cost of the door.
Angela Furniss, for the Crown Prosecution Service, said police launched an investigation after the fire and spotted two men on CCTV cameras kept by neighbouring businesses at about 1.40am.
She added the defendant was identified as running at the wooden door of the changing rooms and entering the building.
Mrs Furniss said he came back out shortly afterwards.
She added: 'An unknown person set fire to a waste bin.'
Mrs Furniss said Nicholls said in interview that he did not know who had started the fire but believed it may have been one of his group.
She said he told police that he did not know why he went into the changing rooms for what he added was a 'matter of seconds'.
Ken Papenfus, for Nicholls, said he was with friends on their way to a party when their car broke down near the club.
He said Nicholls recognised the 'gravity' of the fire but told police all that he knew.
Mr Papenfus said: 'It was a minor incident of criminal damage, he has no relevant previous convictions and there are no issues to be concerned about. He has learnt his lesson, frankly.'