Arsonist Lee Bould had taken monkey dust when he set fire to a car – because he was ‘a nasty bugger who does nasty things’. The fire spread to a second car leaving both vehicles written-off.
Now the 41-year-old has been jailed for 25 months at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court. The arson attack happened on Southbank Street, in Leek, in 2022.
Prosecutor Dylan Wagg said: “The owner of a Seat Leon parked it outside All Saints Church and attended the Christmas lights switch-on. They noticed it had been set alight when they went to collect it the next day. The owner of a Ford Puma parked outside All Saints Church and she discovered it was on fire when she returned at 11pm to see the Seat and her vehicle alight.”
CCTV showed Bould kneeling down next to the Ford Puma when it was set alight.
Ten days later Bould told a support worker ‘I am a nasty bugger who does nasty things’ – before later saying he was joking.
Bould, of Lindop Court, Hanley, was convicted of arson after a trial. He pleaded guilty to failing to surrender to bail after failing to appear in court.
Bould had worked as a JCB welder for 25 years.
Martin Bloor, mitigating, said: “The offence was motivated by drugs. He had taken monkey dust. He cannot recall exactly what he did on that evening. There is no suggestion of it being a revenge attack. It was some unusual behaviour but that can be explained by the taking of monkey dust. He knows he is going to face a custodial sentence.”
Two cars were set on fire outside All Saints Church on Southbank Street in Leek.
(Image: Google)
Recorder James Bromige said: “You were seen crouching by a Ford Puma vehicle. Then you set it on fire. The fire spread to the Seat Leon. The fire destroyed both vehicles causing £32,345 damage. While the majority of that was loss to the insurance companies both owners were left out of pocket with insurance excess.
“At the time you were living in supported accommodation. Ten days later you were seen by an employee and said, ‘I am a nasty bugger who does nasty things’. That demonstrates to me you were aware of what you did.”
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