A TEENAGER set fire to a speed camera because it had given his friend a speeding ticket.

Michael Duncan, aged 19, was spotted by police in the early hours spraying petrol onto an already ablaze speed camera on Tybridge Street, Worcester. 

The teenager, of Trent Road, Worcester, pleaded guilty to charges of attempted arson and having an article with intent to destroy, at the city’s magistrates’ court.

Collette Orton, prosecuting, said police officers were driving down the street towards the city centre at 4.10am on December 27, last year, when they saw “a speed camera on fire”.

Duncan, who, the court heard had taken “10 rocks” of crack that day, was seen by officers “actively applying petrol on the flames”, continued Mrs Orton.

She said officers said the defendant “smelt heavily of petrol” and, when searched, they found a “clear plastic bottle” containing the fluid, and a lighter.

The court heard how, while at a friend’s flat, Duncan was told the friend “had got a speeding ticket” who then suggested the defendant “go and set fire to the machine”.

The pair headed to a petrol station where they filled up a container with petrol before later transferring it to “squeezy bottles”.

Neil Davis, defending, said that “no damage was caused by his actions” – despite the camera being alight.

He said his client “had a problem with class A drugs” and “had taken drugs before the events on that night”.

“Other people were involved in egging him on,” he said. “He was the stupid person who did it, he accepts that.”

However, Mr Davis went up to say: “He stopped [taking drugs] and went cold turkey with the help of his mother, who is sitting at the back of the court.”

The court heard how Duncan’s mum also helped to get him into supervised accommodation, and he now receives £250 per month in Universal Credit.

Mr Davis said the defendant is “actively looking for employment” and previously worked as a trainee chef – with this being his first offence.

He said Duncan was an impressionable young man and easily influenced, and so unpaid work with other offenders may not be a good idea.

Duncan was given a nine-month community order, which includes 10 Rehabilitation Activity Requirement Days and 20 hours attendance at a senior attendance centre.

David Shadwell, chair of the bench, praised the support of Duncan’s mum but said the RAR days and attendance centre would help him become more independent.

“This is about helping you improve on your current situation,” said Mr Shadwell.

Duncan was also ordered to pay a total of £310 in fines and costs, which the court heard his mum would pay for him.

Mr Shadwell said: “Thanks mum for paying that and you will get it back, I am sure, through other means.”