THREE teenagers burgled a 90-year-old widow's home while she slept in the sunshine in her garden - then returned the next day and set the house on fire, a court was told.

The "vulnerable" woman was made homeless when she returned from a day centre for the blind to find her Nelson bungalow wrecked by fire.

Two raids were made on her warden-controlled home by the same three youths who torched her clothes, causing £8,500 of damage, Burnley Crown Court heard.

The prosecution alleges Matthew Stephen Burke,15, Jason John Young ,16, and David John Harvey, 15, stole items including the pensioner's grandfather clock bought by her late husband instead of an engagement ring.

All three, who all live at St John's Place, Nelson, admit two counts of burglary. Burke and Harvey admit arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered while Young denies the offence.

Prosecutor Mr James Boyd told the court the 90-year-old was out when the fire was started, but her neighbour, warden and community care worker Joyce Norton was in the next door terraced bungalow on September 21, 1995.

On the day of the blaze, Young kicked in the door of the woman's home and the trio then ransacked it. Jewellery was taken and some of it was recovered from Harvey's mother and girlfriend.

The three defendants went away and then returned to the house where Harvey set some coats alight with a cigarette lighter.

Mr Boyd told the jury: "The Crown's case is that they did everything together. The defendants were hiding together when the police arrived and everything was a joint enterprise, including setting fire to the premises.

He added: "This is not a case where only the person who has got the lighter is guilty of arson. All three are guilty of arson."

(Proceeding)

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