Ben Dobson – who has more than 180 previous offences to his name – was seen ‘making a run for it’ after starting the fire, a court heard
A prolific criminal with a huge list of 181 previous offences was found with a potentially lethal knife – not long after he had set fire to a van that was parked near a nursery. Heavy drinker Ben Dobson was seen “making a run for it” after starting the fire but he was identified as being responsible for setting the van alight.
He later became very aggressive and threatening towards police, Hull Crown Court heard. Dobson, 38, of no fixed address, but recently in custody on remand, admitted offences of arson and possessing a knife in Bridlington on July 10.
Nadim Bashir, prosecuting, said that the manager of a children’s nursery in Quay Road, Bridlington, noticed that a Ford Transit van had been parked in nearby Blenheim Road for a long time without being moved. People had been living in the van.
At 8.40am, she arrived at the nursery and saw that the van was completely burned out. The fire had caused a wooden fence on top of a wall near the nursery to suffer fire damage, estimated at £800.
CCTV pictures showed a man carrying a large sheet of cardboard towards the van before walking away. Smoke was seen. The man walked back towards the van and there was a flash of light and further smoke from the van.
The man was seen “making a run for it” and flames were coming up from the van. The fire was put out by the fire service. A man who had been sleeping in the van suspected that Dobson was responsible for the blaze.
Police made inquiries and Dobson was identified. An officer spotted Dobson and recognised him. “Support officers arrived,” said Mr Bashir.
“The defendant became very aggressive. He was put to the floor.” He was searched and was found to be carrying a knife. Throughout the journey to the custody suite, he threatened police and behaved “in a very bad way”.
During police interview, Dobson denied setting fire to the van. He had convictions for 181 previous offences, including 20 of possessing a knife, 54 of shoplifting and six of criminal damage.
Amber Hobson, mitigating, said that Dobson had an unenviable criminal record and he had often in the past carried knives as a way of getting himself sent to prison. He was not someone who routinely carried them to threaten or harm others.
The knife was in his pocket. “It was never produced,” said Miss Hobson. It was found during a search. “He made no threats to officers involving a blade,” said Miss Hobson.
“At the time the blade was found, he was being restrained on the ground by three officers. There were no members of the public in the immediate vicinity.”
Dobson was homeless and he had an alcohol addiction. “It doesn’t excuse his actions,” said Miss Hobson. He wants to stay crime-free after this.”
Judge John Thackray KC told Dobson: “Whatever the reason for carrying a knife is, when an incident occurs, often on the spur of the moment, it often escalates and, sadly, those who are carrying knives often use them with devastating consequences.
“Fire quickly spreads, as, indeed, it did here, damaging not just the Transit van, which you set fire to, but wooden fencing connecting to a nursery.
“I don’t accept that you can be rehabilitated. You have a very long history. Only appropriate punishment can be achieved by way of an immediate custodial sentence.”
Dobson was jailed for 14 months.