Arsonists caused £1.6million of damage trying to cremate mouse

The morning after the serious fire at Cycle King in Bury St Edmunds back in 2017 Picture: ANDY ABBOTT Archant

Two men whose “sheer stupidity” caused a devastating fire at Cycle King in Bury St Edmunds which caused £1.6 million damage had been trying to cremate a mouse, a court has heard.

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Ashley Finley leaving Ipswich Crown Court on May 20, after pleading guilty to arson along with with Dysney Sibbons. The pair were charged with arson following a fire that destroyed the Cycle King bike shop in 2017 Picture: ARCHANT Ashley Finley leaving Ipswich Crown Court on May 20, after pleading guilty to arson along with with Dysney Sibbons. The pair were charged with arson following a fire that destroyed the Cycle King bike shop in 2017 Picture: ARCHANT

Two men whose "sheer stupidity" caused a devastating fire at Cycle King in Bury St Edmunds which caused £1.6 million damage had been trying to cremate a mouse, a court has heard.

Dysney Sibbons and Ashley Finley were "trying to amuse themselves on a boring day" when they used an accelerant to burn the rodent, Ipswich Crown Court was told.

Judge David Pugh said that as a result of the location of their "sheer stupidity" they had been responsible for a devastating fire.

"I am satisfied from reading the papers in this case that it was an act of sheer stupidity by these two defendants, particularly because of the location of where they were planning to amuse themselves to alleviate a boring day by cremating a mouse," said the judge.

The charred frontage of Cycle King in Bury St Edmunds after a fire tore through the building in 2017 Picture: MATT STOTT The charred frontage of Cycle King in Bury St Edmunds after a fire tore through the building in 2017 Picture: MATT STOTT

Before the court on Monday (May 20) were Dysney Sibbons, 23, of Elmsett Close, Stowmarket, and Ashley Finley, 25, of Borley Crescent, Elmswell.

They both pleaded pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether property would be damaged on what would have been the first day of their trial.

The case was adjourned until the week commencing June 24 for pre-sentence reports to be prepared by the probation service on the defendants.

Emergency services were called to the scene of a fire at the cycle shop, on Angel Hill, at around 5pm on September 29 2017.

Firefighters tackle the serious fire at the Cycle King shop on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds. Picture:ANDY ABBOTT Firefighters tackle the serious fire at the Cycle King shop on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds. Picture:ANDY ABBOTT

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The blaze ripped through the building, leaving it completely destroyed, before spreading to the nearby One Bull pub and Francela restaurant, causing extensive smoke damage to the buildings.

A dozen fire engines and more than 60 firefighters were sent to fight the flames. Fire crews finally called a stop to the incident at around midnight.

Steven Dyble, for Finley, said his client hadn't anticipated the catastrophic consequences of the blaze.

Firefighters tackle the serious fire at the Cycle King shop on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds. Picture:ANDY ABBOTT Firefighters tackle the serious fire at the Cycle King shop on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds. Picture:ANDY ABBOTT

He said Finley had worked at the cycle shop for three-and-a half months and had lost his job and his previous good character as a result of the "catastrophic" fire.

Firefighters tackle the serious fire at the Cycle King shop on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds. Picture:ANDY ABBOTT Firefighters tackle the serious fire at the Cycle King shop on Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds. Picture:ANDY ABBOTT