BREAKING NEWS: Arsonist jailed for four years
A MAN who caused more than £85,000 of damages as a result of a revenge arson attack in a Lincolnshire village has been locked up for four years.
Thomas Dawson (20) put the lives of Anita Duffy and her son Josh at risk when he set fire to a moped outside their home in Colsterworth, near Grantham.
Lincoln Crown Court heard the blaze spread to the family's car and house - forcing them to move out for ten weeks while the damage was repaired.
The court heard Dawson was driven away from scene by his friend Sheldon Coles (20) after leaving behind a petrol can.
A teenage girl who was a passenger in the car later recalled hearing Dawson say: "I want to petrol the ped."
David Lee, prosecuting, said: "Dawson got of the car, went over to the car and poured petrol all over it. He then lit a fire and returned to the moped."
The court was told by good fortune Josh Duffy had not yet gone to bed and woke his mother shouting: "It's a fire, it's the moped."
Mr Lee added: "There was then a loud bang and an explosion. The fire spread to the car and then the garage."
Firefighters were called to the property after a motorist passing on the nearby A1 came to their help. Mrs Duffy later reported seeing a passing car with a man "leering out of the window" at the damage.
Loss adjusters estimated the total damage and repair bill at 86,000 plus 10,000 accommodation costs after the family were forced to move out.
Mr Lee said: "Clearly this family have been greatly damaged and emotionally scarred by what happened."
In mitigation the court was told Dawson blamed Josh Duffy for the loss of his own moped and only intended to damage his scooter.
Dawson, of Churchfield Close, Deeping St James, was sentenced to four years in a young offenders institution after he admitted reckless arson on 15 April.
Coles, of George Street, Bourne, was sentenced to 51 weeks custody suspended for 12 months and ordered to carry out 250 hours community punishment after he pleaded guilty to assisting an offender.
Passing sentence Judge Michael Heath told Dawson it was a premeditated act of revenge. Judge Heath added: "It is only by chance nobody was killed or seriously injured.
"The effect on the Duffy family is plain."
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Weather for Spalding
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 11 C to 18 C
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