A TEENAGE arsonist from Hereford has been up before the courts after setting fire to a hotel mattress.

Thomas Davies entered guilty pleas to one count of arson and two counts of assault by beating when he appeared before magistrates in Kidderminster in October.

The court heard from prosecutor Mark Hambling that the 18-year-old had, without lawful excuse, intentionally or recklessly used fire to damage a mattress worth £400 and belonging to Gloucester's St Ann Way Travelodge on June 4.

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He had also assaulted a man and a woman by beating in Gloucester on June 4, the magistrates were told.

Davies, of Widemarsh Street, Hereford, was handed a 12-month community order with 100 hours of unpaid work for the offences, with magistrates saying that they had taken his guilty plea into account when imposing the penalty.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £400 to Travelodge and £50 to each of the assault victims.

No order was made for prosecution costs to be paid to allow compensation to take priority.