A CONVICTED arsonist responsible for setting a £400,000 fire in Burnley has been returned to youth custody after being caught in a stolen car while on prison licence.

Jack Bradbury was given a 40-month sentence in December 2012 at Burnley Crown Court for his role in a huge blaze which devastated a row of shops in Plumbe Street the previous march, alongside 20-year-old Reece Renton, who was imprisoned for 56 months.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The young pair claimed they had broken into the back of one of the properties because they believed there were the remnants of a cannabis factory inside, which turned out to be a mistake.

But they brought with them a petrol can and were seen jumping over a wall after the blaze had broken out. The premises, which had been kitted out as a pizza parlour by a local businessman, and a nearby laundrette, were significantly affected.

Emma Kehoe, prosecuting, said Bradbury had been arrested, while on licence for the arson offence, for his involvement in two other incidents.

He had been jointly charged with a youth over the theft of a car and later admitted to unlawfully taking the motor vehicle. The youth was given 12 months probation supervision and an 24-hour attendance centre order for his part.

Bradbury had also been caught with a go-kart stolen during a house burglary. The burglar was last jailed for four months.

Philip Holden, defending, said the offences had led to the defendant being recalled to prison to serve the remainder of his previous sentence.

Bradbury, now 20, of no fixed address, was not expected to be released before December. He admitted unlawfully taking a motor vehicle and handling stolen goods. He was given a four-month sentence at a young offenders’ institution.

Passing sentence, Judge Beverley Lunt said: “It is a really bad record for a 20-year-old. You were absolutely mad to get yourself involved in these things when you were on licence.”