Pair face arson charges in court over Southwick bingo hall blaze
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Paul Bell, 45, of Foundry Row in Coxhoe, and Terry Mcewan, 47, of Southend Road, Low Fell, Gateshead, are jointly charged relating to the blaze which burned down the former Savoy bingo hall on The Green in Southwick on the night of Friday, February 3, 2017.
The pair were told the case is so serious it must be heard before a judge.
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Hide AdBoth are charged with arson with intent as to whether life was endangered and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
A bench sitting at South Tyneside Magistrates’ Court declined jurisdiction following representations from prosecutor Laura Lax that the case was indictable only.
They heard the building, belonging to NE30 Land Ltd, was destroyed by the fire, causing damage of an unknown value.
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Hide AdBoth men, who only spoke to confirm their ages and addresses, were given unconditional bail and told to attend Newcastle Crown Court on the morning of Tuesday, August 13.
Work has been carried out in recent months by Sunderland City Council to clear the prominent site of ironwork and rubble from the fire-hit site after efforts by its owner came to a halt after their initial start last year.
Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service and Northumbria Police were called to the building blaze at 5.30pm, with the huge blaze causing the building’s roof to collapse inwards.
Firefighters remained on the scene into the next day.
Part of the building had been used as an auction rooms, with the businessman in charge of the company in the process of moving out at the time of the incident.
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Hide AdThe land remains on sale through Bradley Hall and is being marketed as a development site which could be “suitable for a variety of uses” with the advert highlighting with limited parking in the area it could “prove very popular as a local car park.”