An arsonist has been jailed for deliberately setting a car on fire in a Staffordshire town. Lee Bould, set a blue Seat Leon ablaze in Southbank Street, Leek, at around 11pm on November 19, 2022.
A court heard how CCTV caught the 41-year-old in the act. He was seen crouching by the car prior to it being found alight.
The blaze from the car spread to a Ford Puma which was parked next to the Seat. Both vehicles were destroyed in the inferno.
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Firefighters rushed to the scene and both vehicles were found burnt out. The cost of the damage to the vehicles was estimated as being around £22,500.
Fire investigators were initially unable to determine the cause of the blaze as both cars were severely damaged. However, police CCTV inquiries placed Bould at the scene.
Bould was initially arrested on December 1, 2022, and released under investigation. Police arrested him again at the end of the month and he was then charged.
Bould, of Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, denied arson but was found guilty following a trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday, January 9. He was sentenced to two years and one month behind bars.
Following the sentencing, Sergeant Joshua Slack of Staffordshire Police said: “Bould caused significant financial harm to the owners of the vehicles and had a total disregard for public safety when he set the Seat alight.
“The fire quickly spread to the Ford, and if it wasn’t for our colleagues at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, it could have spread further to properties and endangered people’s lives. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
“I am pleased the jury found Bould guilty and hope his sentence reassures the community that he will be behind bars and no longer posing an arson risk.”
Leigh Richards, Lead Fire Investigator at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, added: “I hope this result shows people that if they are intent on setting fires, risking public safety, and wasting our firefighters valuable time, they will be dealt with robustly.
“We will work with our policing colleagues to ensure they have all the evidence they need to bring offenders to justice.”