A VENGEFUL teenager used Army surplus flares to become the infamous Beacon Hill arsonist when he was kicked out of school, the Old Bailey has been told.

Steven Hooker, now 20, torched the school, four cars, a phone box and convenience store causing more than £200,000 worth of damage, it is alleged. He denies all charges. The trial continues.

A full version of this story will be found in the Haslemere Herald of February 23, 2001.