Police caught a man setting fire to his girlfriend's company car after a drunken row.
The man, who has prior convictions for aggravated vehicle taking and driving without insurance, was twice over the alcohol limit when he crashed the car, which he had taken without permission, after arguing with his girlfriend.
Trying to disguse his crime he set the car alight with petrol so he could claim it had been stolen.
Citing his apologies to the court with his lawyer retifying on his behlaf how he had learnt his lesson, realiesed his actions were caused by drinking excessivley and was willing to change his ways. What astounded and horrifed me, was the judge telling him, his actions were quite unacceptable, labelling the arson offence as the most serious charge.
Pardon me your honour, but I must protest! Surely the excessive amount of alcholol in his blood must be the most serious charge here without which, he would never have driven the car let alone set fire to it. It was lucky he hit no innocent passer by on the way to the crash.
His punishement? A 15 month prison sentence for the arson, six months' concurrent sentence for the aggravated vehicle taking, £150 for driving with no insurance, £100 for driving with no licence and a poultry 250 fine for drink driving.
What is the world coming too?
Jackie Violet