FORUM FOCUS For Blandford and surrounding villages Issue No. 26
Young swimmers rise to the challenge: Page 27
May 2014
Jail for the chapel arsonist THE arsonist who caused more than ÂŁ30,000 damage to Blandford's historic cemetery chapel last September has been sent to prison for three-and-a-half years. John Sennett, 26, of Castleman Smith Close, Blandford, was spared what Judge Roger Jarvis said could have been a four-year sentence because of a letter showing real remorse and the fact that a full trial had not been necessary to convict him. Sennett had given a 'no comment' interview when he was arrested on 24th September, nine days after the fire, and again in October. He initially denied responsibility but later pleaded guilty to the charge of arson. Earlier he had also pleaded guilty to the attempted theft of fuel on the same night as the fire. No evidence was found in support of his claim that he had an unidentified accomplice in starting the blaze. Dorchester Crown Court heard on 7th April that Sennett's DNA was found at the scene, and also on two vehicles, one in Larksmead and one in Castleman Smith Close. Mark Ruffell, prosecuting, said Dorset Fire and Rescue investigators confirmed that
accelerant had been used to set three fires in the chapel. The building had been opened to the public as part of Dorset Architectural Heritage Week as the only original one of its type in the county, and one of the few remaining in John Sennett: remorse. the country. He said Blandford town clerk Linda Scott-Giles had described how town council staff responsible for managing the site were left 'speechless' and 'emotional' when they learned of the offence. The fire was still burning when it was reported, and investigators found two windows broken, a curtain rail and curtain ripped down and set alight, and a lectern and bible destroyed. A wooden cross from one of the graves was also damaged. It appeared the second window had been smashed as a point of exit because the fire was blocking the first and the intruder had
The cemetery chapel. panicked because of the dense black smoke. Repair costs were estimated at ÂŁ31,156 and included cleaning the whole of the interior of the chapel, repair work, making new leaded windows, and scaffolding for the work to be carried out. Thomas Horder, defending, said his client had To Page 2
INSIDE THIS ISSUE Pre-school future in the balance Page 6 Curtain up on theatre revival Page 20 Village schools celebrate Easter Page 25
Taxi driver-cum-artist Martin Ansell has turned the Castleman House care home into a gallery to display some of his pictures. Martin is pictured with care home manager Julie Thorne and resident Ted Collis. Full story: Page 6.
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