A TEENAGER involved in a fire attack on a Morecambe pet shop has been sent to detention for more than two years.

Mark McLoughlin pleaded guilty to arson which caused an estimated £40,000 worth of damage at Reptile World on Pedder Street.

The 19-year-old appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court, having admitted the offence at an earlier hearing.

He also admitted two offences of dangerous driving, two of disqualified driving and three of burglary.

The court heard how on August 18 last year petrol was spread around the pet shop - though McLoughlin blamed another man for setting it on fire.

A retired woman living in an adjacent property, who was not in the best of health, had the terrifying experience of finding her hallway full of smoke.

The burglaries were carried out on two homes and one store room and the driving offences related to his getting behind the wheel of a stock car that was not roadworthy, the court heard.

McLoughlin had no previous convictions.

In mitigation, Mr Iain Simkin said the teenager succumbed to the temptation to offend after a key was placed in his hand. The burglaries were carried out to get money.

His barrister said there had been a breakdown in McLoughlin's thought-making process, preventing him from seeing the difference between right and wrong.

While on remand he had been suffering a reactive disorder and had made suicide attempts.

Two of those were cries for help, but the third was a serious attempt on his life.

Judge Christopher Cornwall said of the arson: "That is an extremely serious offence for which the community has a right to expect an immediate custodial sentence."

McLoughlin was sentenced to 27 months detention and banned from driving for 18 months.