The culprit walked seven miles home
Robert Bird appeared at Hull Crown Court(Image: Hull Live)
A woman who was sleeping in her car on Hornsea seafront suddenly woke up in horror to discover that a van parked next to her had been deliberately set on fire. The potentially highly dangerous blaze had already spread to a car that was parked on the other side of the burning van.
The shocked woman felt the sensation of heat on her cheek from resting her head near the window and she saw smoke everywhere. She hurriedly managed to drive her vehicle to safety but the fire-starting van driver had left the scene.
He later walked all the way home – at least seven miles – and the van was completely burned out, Hull Crown Court heard. Robert Bird, 51, of Goosenook Lane, Leven, between Beverley and Hornsea, admitted an offence of arson on February 9 last year.
Hannah Turner, prosecuting, said that a woman parked her car on the Hornsea seafront and Mermaids parking area. She had unclipped a mobile sauna unit that was on a trailer and this was next to her car.
She fell asleep inside the car at about midday, with her head propped against the window area. She was later awoken by the sensation of heat on her cheek and she spotted clouds of smoke.
She saw that a small silver van that was parked next to her car was on fire. The woman was quickly able to drive her vehicle out of the way of the fire.
But considerable fire damage was caused to a Vauxhall Mokka hire car that was parked on the other side of the burning van. The fire brigade attended and put the blaze out. Parts of the other car had melted because of the heat of the fire and had been scorched, the court heard.
Bird was reckless as to whether serious damage was caused to the property of others by setting fire to his van. “I think there has been a claim on insurance for damage on the Vauxhall vehicle,” said Miss Turner.
Bird was identified as the registered keeper of the van. Police went to his home and he admitted that the van was his. He made full admissions during police interview to setting the van on fire.
He said that he walked back from Hornsea to his home in Leven – a distance of more than seven miles.
Ian Phillip, mitigating, said that Bird made immediate admissions at the scene when he was arrested and during police interview. There were references for him and he had no previous convictions.
There had been no offending of this type in the past and Bird had kept out of trouble since. He had a good work record, acted out of character and had been assessed as a low risk of reoffending.
Bird was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, 60 hours’ unpaid work and 15 days’ rehabilitation. He was ordered to pay £150 costs and a £187 victims’ surcharge.
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