Teens locked up for arson attack on historic Rheola House

Four young men who pulled on balaclavas and recorded themselves setting fire to Rheola House, a John Nash-designed mansion in the Neath Valley, have each been locked up for three years.

The four, none of whom had any previous convictions, had already admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered. At Swansea Crown Court, each was handed three years’ detention in a young offender institution. The term reflected a one-third reduction for their guilty pleas.

Who was sentenced

• Kyle Renzoni, 18, of Bryn Catwg, Cadoxton, Neath
• Ellis Harding, 19, of Rhos Road, Gendros, Swansea
• Yian Foster, 18, of John Street, Resolven, Neath Valley
• Evan Traynor, 18, of Brithwen Road, Waunarlwydd, Swansea

The judge’s remarks

Judge Geraint Walters said the attack on the listed building had been carefully planned and deliberate. Speaking directly to the defendants, he said: “Your actions can only be described as an unfathomable display of unspeakable wickedness”.

How the fire was started

The blaze was set on 18 August, during a heatwave. The four were joined by a youth who cannot be identified because of his age, and the group travelled to the mansion in Renzoni’s car.

Once there, they put on balaclavas and forced their way into the former servants’ quarters with a crowbar. Cardboard and an accelerant were used to ignite the fire, which the group then fuelled with pieces of wood. As they made their escape, they paused to set light to the grass in front of the house.

Firefighters tackled the blaze, but it spread from the servants’ quarters through the rest of the building. The roof and floors were destroyed, leaving only the “outer envelope” of walls standing.

Caught on camera

Officers tracked the group down by tracing Renzoni’s car. Inside the vehicle they found a GoPro camera, and the footage on it showed Renzoni had recorded the attack.

What the defence said

Representing Renzoni, David Singh told the court his client was “absolutely devastated” by the effect his actions had had on the community and on his own family. Mr Singh described him as having a good work ethic. He said Renzoni had begun steps towards joining the armed forces, and suggested the court might feel the discipline of such a career would benefit him.

Ian Wright, for Harding, said his client feels “genuine regret, shame and remorse”. Mr Wright said Harding functions at a much younger age than his years, and has ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, oppositional defiance disorder and Tourette syndrome. He added that Harding had tried to join the Army but was turned down because of his diagnoses.

Sarah John, for Foster, told the court her client had been exposed to drugs before birth and, as the pre-sentence report put it, was “born addicted to heroin”. Ms John said he was taken into care soon after he was born and had an upbringing “marred by adverse childhood experiences”. She said he has undiagnosed ADHD and bipolar disorder, as well as cognitive functioning and learning difficulties.

Georgia Donohue, for Traynor, said he was “far more immature” than his age of 18 and has undiagnosed ADHD and oppositional defiance disorder. She said joining the Army had been his ambition all his life, but he failed the medical. She told the court that on the day Traynor “made a terrible mistake” which did not reflect his character.

The youth defendant

The court heard the fifth member of the group had already been dealt with at Swansea Youth Court, where he was given a referral order. Judge Walters said the justices had been wrong to sentence him on his own. He said they should have sent the case up to the Crown Court so that all of the defendants could be sentenced together.

An uncertain future for Rheola

The mansion’s owners had been drawing up plans for a multi-million pound boutique hotel and leisure complex, with scores of holiday cabins on the site, the court heard. A detailed assessment of the fire-ravaged building is now being carried out. It is not yet known whether the house can be saved or viably restored.

Rheola House dates from between 1812 and 1818 and was regarded as one of Wales’ most treasured properties. Its architect, John Nash, also designed London’s Marble Arch, redesigned Buckingham Palace and remodelled Brighton’s Royal Pavilion.

Welsh heritage body Cadw gave the house its highest level of listing, describing it as “an important early 19th-century country house in the picturesque tradition”.