A TEENAGER who wrecked Stourport Sports Club in a £1.4 million blaze has been sentenced to four years detention.

Damien Evans, drunk on nine pints of cider, lit a wheelie-bin full of laundry which was tethered to the building waiting to be collected.

Flames, fanned by the wind, shot up to the overhanging eaves and security guards alerted by an alarm could do nothing to extinguish them, Worcester Crown Court was told.

The building, in shared ownership between Wyre Forest District Council and Stourport Hockey Club, was completely destroyed on the night of December 4 last year.

Builders have begun to lay new foundations for a replacement centre, but the shortfall between the insurance payout and the rebuilding cost is £36,000, said Kerry Moreton, prosecuting.

Evans, aged 19, of Tomkinson Drive, Kidderinster, admitted arson and two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm on Tomos Spiv and Andrew Jones.

Recorder Roger Evans said he had acted with “dangerous stupidity and folly” and added: “The public in Stourport lost a major community amenity because of mucking about that got out of hand. It was wickedly irresponsible behaviour.”

The court heard Evans and two pals were sheltering by the sports club while they shared a cigarette.

At 2.30am Evans lit paper sticking from the bin and the trio stood around doing nothing as the blaze took hold.

All three were arrested but the others were not charged.

At the time of the arson, Evans was on bail for the attack on Mr Spiv, which happened on Monday, June 11 last year.

Worcester News: Sports club fire - click here for the full picture

Bailed on the arson charge, Evans again became violent on Wednesday, March 5 this year when he launched an unprovoked attack on Mr Jones by kicking him in the face.

Emma Rutherford, for Evans, said: “He never intended to set fire to the sports centre but acted in a stupid and reckless manner.”

She said that excess alcohol was at the root of his offending and he was “gutted” to be locked up.

A psychiatric report revealed there were no underlying mental problems.

The recorder passed sentences of 15 and nine months custody on Evans for the assaults but ordered them to run concurrently.

In the dock with Evans was 22-year-old Philip Bell, of Holman Street, Kidderminster, who also pleaded guilty to the injury assault on Mr Spiv.

He was given a 12-month jail term, suspended for 18 months, with 100 hours of unpaid community work.

He was also ordered to pay Mr Spiv, of Lower Parklands, Kidderminster, £1,000 compensation and pay £500 court costs.