THREE teenagers have today been punished for the manslaughter of a 93-year-old woman who lost her life following a suspicious blaze at her North Yorkshire home.

“Peaceful and dignified” Yuen Har Ho died in hospital weeks after fire ripped through her flat in the Jennyfields area of Harrogate in November last year, with the flames taking hold after a bin was pushed against a door and set alight with fireworks.

Four youths were arrested a fortnight after the blaze following a high-profile police probe in the area, with one Scott Hampson, 18, from Leeds being cleared of manslaughter after a trial at Leeds Crown Court last month.

But today Jordan Lee, 14, of Harehills, Leeds, and Ryan Wilson, 14, of Stepney Road, Scarborough, were both given two-year detention training orders while 17-year-old Charles Francis, from Jennyfields, was sentenced to 26 months in a young offenders institution after all three admitted manslaughter.

And a judge at Leeds Crown Court lifted reporting restrictions on the Lee and Wilson to allow them to be identified, which would otherwise not have been possible because of their ages.

Mrs Ho was rescued by firefighters after her flat filled with smoke when the bin was set alight at around 7.20pm on Saturday, November 1, but died in Harrogate District Hospital on December 20 after a period in intensive care.

She had come to England and settled in Harrogate in the early 1970s after her eldest son Gary came to the UK to work In a statement, her 54-year-old son David Ho and his 51-year-old sister Wai Hung Burrage, who are both from Harrogate, said: “Yuen Har was a cherished mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who was at the very heart of our family.

“We feel she had so much life to live and this was proven by her strength and resolve in holding on for so long following the tragic event, despite the injuries she had suffered. We are all so proud of her courage and determination in not giving up without a fight.

“We were obviously very disappointed with the not guilty verdict [in the Scott Hampson trial]. However, we are relieved that all those involved were identified and brought before the courts. The three convictions do bring us some small feeling of relief and closure, but we can never forget what happened.

“We would like to thank North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for rescuing our mother, and all the staff at Harrogate District Hospital, in particular the intensive care unit, for all their efforts in trying to save her life.

“We would also like to thank the members of the media for their assistance, the local community and North Yorkshire Police for their professionalism, determination and continued support throughout this difficult time.”

Detective Inspector Heather Pearson of Harrogate CID, who led the manslaughter investigation, said: ““Mrs Ho was a 93-year-old lady who had led a peaceful and dignified life.

“Her life was cruelly taken from her and her family, and nothing can make up for this. Her family now have to live with the consequences of the irresponsible and reckless actions of those involved.

“Her family have dealt with the traumatic and distressing circumstances of her death in manner that is a credit to her. Sadly, this has affected a number of lives, in particular Mrs Ho, her family and June Davie, the occupant of the upstairs flat who lost her home, personal possessions and cherished pets. Thankfully, she was not at home when the fire took hold.

“The tragic death of Mrs Ho highlights the dangers and ultimate harm which can be inflicted by irresponsible and unlawful use of fireworks. Those involved on the evening in question were on a spree of anti-social behaviour in Jennyfields, with little regard for people or property.

“Finally, I would like to thank the residents of Harrogate, in particular within Jennyfields, who came forward with information which assisted the inquiry.”