Sentencing delayed for teenager who carried out arson attack on synagogue

The sentencing of a teenager who carried out an arson attack on a synagogue in north-west London has been delayed after a request from the counter-terrorism branch of the Crown Prosecution Service, a court has heard.

The 17-year-old boy, a British national from Brent, who has not been named because of his age, pleaded guilty to arson not endangering life, during a hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court in April.

He was due for sentencing at Willesden Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, but District Judge Mark Jabbit told the hearing that prosecutors specialising in counter-terrorism cases were still investigating the circumstances of the offence.

“Late last week, I received an email from the Special Crime and Counter Terrorism Division of the Crown Prosecution Service asking for more time to investigate the background of this case,” the judge said.

“I considered that it was not an egregious request and the prosecution considers it highly relevant to sentence.”

The sentence hearing was adjourned to August 27 at 11.30am.

The teenage defendant will remain on conditional bail until then, the court heard.

Late on Saturday April 18, the teenager smashed the window of Kenton United Synagogue in Harrow before lighting a bottle and throwing it inside, a previous hearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court was told.

The Community Security Trust said minor smoke damage to an internal room was caused but there were no injuries or significant structural damage.