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Duo admit causing blaze
Two men appeared before a crown court judgeon Monday to admit setting fire to a house in Fishguard to cover up a break in.
Steven O'Sullivan, 22, of Heol Cerwyn, Fishguard, and Darren Williams, of Plas y Gamil, Goodwick, were due to stand trial at Swansea crown court accused of arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
At the last moment they pleaded guilty to lesser charge of arson being reckless as to whether property would be damaged.
David Martineau, of Rugby, continued to deny the charge and the prosecution accepted his plea. A formal verdict of not guilty was entered and he was released, along with a 17 year old girl who cannot be named because of her age.
The case took a twist when Geraint Walters, prosecuting, said that as soon as the hearing had concluded Martineau and the girl would be re-arrested.
He told Judge Michael Burr that a witness who had attended court expecting to give evidence for the prosecution had made "a serious" allegation that over the weekend an attempt had been made to intimidate him.
Mr Walters added, "A criminal investigation will begin."
Mr Walters said the prosecution accepted the pleas by O'Sullivan and Williams on the basis that they set fire to a bed hoping to destroy evidence after they broke into the property.
Judge Burr said that to achieve that "they would have had to burn the whole place down."
Williams admitted starting the fire, O'Sullivan accepted he was party to the idea but did not actually set fire to anything.
Mr Walters said it was clear all four of the defendants had been inside the house at various stages.
O'Sullivan and Williams will be sentenced after a probation officer has prepared reports into their backgrounds.
They were remanded in custody meanwhile.
11:22am Wednesday 21st May 2008
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