A teenager who set fire to a bus while passengers were sat on the deck below him has been sentenced to two years and seven months in prison.
Theo Francis took three attempts to set fire to a piece of paper on the 33 National Express Bus in Kingstanding while on its way from Great Barr to Birmingham City Centre at around 10pm on October 25, 2023.
Francis, who was 16 at the time, left the bus and went on the run from West Midlands Police for months, reports BirminghamLive.
After being caught, the now 18-year-old initially denied it was him but went on to admit a charge of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Theo Francis set the bus alight
PA/West Midlands Police
Prosecutor Shehraz Hussain told Birmingham Crown Court: "The defendant boarded a bus, belonging to National Express, and sat on the upper deck. At this time there were other passengers sat on the lower deck.
"Theo took a piece of paper, set it alight and placed it on the floor. This burnt momentarily before it extinguished of its own accord.
"He picked up the same piece of paper from the ground and set it alight and placed it back on the ground out of view of the CCTV. This piece of paper again extinguished.
"At this point he produced another piece of paper and placed it on the seat and set it alight. Theo watched the paper burn and produce flames before leaving the bus. The flames grew causing extensive damage to the bus."
A spokesman from National Express said the incident risked the safety of the driver and passengers, while adding that people lighting fires on buses deterred others from wanting to use them.
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Theo Francis
West Midlands Police
After his release on bail following his arrest in February last year, the teenager went on to commit further offences, leading to a brief suspended prison term and a youth rehabilitation order.
Andrew Baker, defending told the court the teenager had learning difficulties and a low IQ, and that Francis was ultimately "brave" to plead guilty.
He said: "He has had a truly wretched childhood. The only supportive figures are his grandmother and aunt. His father has been absent throughout and his mother has had very little interplay in his life."
Baker added Francis of Finchley Road, Kingstanding, had been subjected to bullying while in custody at HMP Brinsford young offenders institution in Featherstone, Staffordshire.
Passing sentence, Judge Tom Rochford said he would have to consider the mental wellbeing of Francis, as well as his age at the time of the incident.
He said: "Being exploited doesn't mean you are weak, strong people are exploited, and looking for help doesn't mean you're weak. In a funny way it can mean you are strong if you look for help.
""Sometimes you have to be brave and strong to look for help and be brave and strong to know you can't manage everything on our own.
"I hope you will think about that in future. I can see you are nodding."
