Schoolboys jailed after 'revenge' bus fire over ticket row

Two teenagers have been jailed for two years for setting a double decker bus on fire in Birmingham - while it had passengers on board.

The bus was engulfed in flames and eight terrified passengers, as well as the driver, had to flee the vehicle.

Witnesses said the boys started a fire before getting off the bus 'laughing' as they did so, without warning other passengers.

The blaze was reportedly a revenge action after the duo got into a row with the driver over a ticket back in June.

The teenagers admitted a charge of arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered at Birmingham Crown Court on Tuesday 10 November.

According to the Mirror and the Birmingham Mail, Judge Nicholas Chambers said: "Flames and smoke can be seen coming from the seat before you left.

"You can be seen laughing before you leave, making no attempt to put the fire out or giving warning to other occupants of the bus.

"Fortunately some other passenger got on, went upstairs, saw the fire and the alarm was raised.

"Had it not been, the bus would have driven off with its passengers with the bus ablaze."

The teenagers were only bought to justice after their headmaster saw an appeal for information in the Birmingham Mail.

A spokesman from the National Express told the paper: "We are delighted to see justice done in this very serious matter.

"Incidents such as this are very rare on our vehicles but are, of course, very serious.

"We welcome the judge's decision and remarks in this case."

Related articles

Male bus driver told he's 'pregnant' after giving false urine sample for drugs test

Honduras bus crash leaves 14 dead and 55 injured

Man steals double decker bus for joyride through London suburb