DETECTIVES have charged four people with arson-related offences in Jaywick. Two others have been released on police bail while further enquiries are conducted.
Roddy Ashworth
DETECTIVES have charged four people with arson-related offences in Jaywick.
Two others have been released on police bail while further enquiries are conducted.
A 14-year-old boy was charged on suspicion of criminal damage with intent to commit arson at a property in Sunbeam Avenue last Wednesday night , and a property in The Broadway on Sunday .
A 23-year-old man was charged on suspicion of criminal damage by arson to a property at the same address.
A 17-year-old-girl was charged on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life in the Jaywick area over the last five days.
And a 17-year-old boy was charged on suspicion of arson in Brookland Gardens on January 4.
The two others arrested and bailed were a man and a woman.
The arrests are a result of a series of early morning raids in the coastal area on Tuesday.
The four who were charged appeared at Colchester Magistrates this morning where three of the four were remanded in custody. The 17-year-old girl was released on bail.
Det Insp Lee Davies said: “We are treating the string of recent fires in Jaywick extremely seriously and will leave no stone unturned in the pursuit of those responsible.
“This spate of arsons has made life a misery for local residents so we are very pleased to have been able to charge some individuals.
“It is anticipated that further arrests will be made in the near future.”
Essex County Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that in the early hours of Sunday morning they were called to a derelict chalet-like property in Brookland Gardens which they described as “100% alight”.
Two crews from Clacton were alerted shortly before 1am to put out the fire, which was extinguished by 2.05am
Later, at around 7.35pm, they were called to a small blaze at a similar property on Broadway, Jaywick. Two fire crews took less than 20 minutes to put the blaze out.
Detectives are appealing for anyone who has information in relation to these fires to contact Clacton CID on 0300 333 4444.
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