Suspended sentence for driver who set stepfather's van alight (From Milford Mercury)

Suspended sentence for driver who set stepfather's van alight

12:30pm Thursday 31st December 2009

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A Pembroke Dock man who took his stepfather’s van without permission and then set fire to it has been sentenced to 12 weeks in prison, suspended for two years.

Stuart Thompson, aged 26, was sentenced at Haverfordwest magistrates court on Wednesday, December 23.

He had already admitted taking a vehicle without consent, driving while disqualified, driving without insurance, refusing to provide a breath sample and failing to stop when required by a police officer.

Thompson, who gave his address as Brookes House bed and breakfast, London Road, Pembroke Dock, was spotted by police at the Snax 24 petrol station in Johnston, at around 2am on Sunday, November 1.

His driving was erratic and it appeared he was driving with the handbrake on. He then drove around a police officer attempting to halt him.

Officers eventually found him running up a lane.

He admitted he had been driving the van and that he’d been drinking, then told police to act quickly as he ’d set the van on fire.

The van was discovered unoccupied at St Mary’s Park, Jordanston, and a small fire was extinguished.

Thompson told police that the van was not his and, after revealing he’d drunk four cans of lager, refused a roadside breath test.

Further police checks confirmed he also had no insurance or driving licence.

Magistrates previously heard that Thompson had been dog sitting for his partner’s parents.

He had gone out to get more cigarettes and panicked when he saw police.

“He realises what he did was extremely foolish,” said defence lawyer Alun Morgan.

Mr Morgan added that the case had had a “devastating effect” on his client.

Magistrates handed down a 12-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, 200 hours of unpaid work in the community and a two year supervision order.

Thompson was also disqualified from driving for 12 months, had eight penalty points endorsed on his licence and was ordered to pay £85 costs.

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