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A teenager has been sentenced in court for setting fire to his grandmother’s furniture because she did not make him something to eat.

Kyle Arnold Alderman, of Southwell Road, in Broad Green, told his gran, who he lived with, he was “going to kill her”, Croydon Magistrates' Court heard on Tuesday (January 30).

The 19-year-old was sentenced after he pleaded guilty to arson.

Prosecutor Caroline Mungar said: “The defendant had returned home and he was drunk.

“He requested that his grandmother made him some dinner and she said she was not going to do that.

“He became aggressive and said he was going to kill her.”

Ms Mungar added that his gran, Gabrielle Alderman, did not take the claim seriously, and was not in fear of her grandson.

(Image: Grant Melton)

The prosecution explained after this Ms Alderman took her pet dog outside into the garden when she started to “smell smoke” coming from inside.

Once Ms Alderman went back inside to investigate the smell of smoke, she noticed a chair had been damaged by fire.

“[Alderman] came downstairs and said he had burned it," Ms Munger added.

"[Ms Alderman] called the police and the defendant went back upstairs and was heard to be throwing things around before he then ran away.

“He locked himself in his shed in the back garden. He admits he was drunk and had taken some drugs.

Defending Alderman, Gary Monks said his client was “very remorseful” and made full admissions for the crime.

He added: “He describes it as being a moment of madness. He immediately thought better of his actions and extinguished the flames [afterward].”

Alderman was sentenced to a 12 month community order, where he will have to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, received treatment for his alcohol intake for three months and attend a rehabilitation course for 20 days.

(Image: Grant Melton)

Chair of the bench, Terry Carpenter told the teenager: “You really did escape jail by the skin of your teeth."

He added: “It cannot be doubted, for anybody to experience a fire in their own home, it is not a pleasant experience.

“Drink may be the reason for your actions, but it is not an excuse.”

Alderman was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a victim surcharge fee of £85.

He must also pay his gran £50 in compensation to cover the cost of the damaged chair.