Arsonist jailed for setting £5,000 fire in Telford garden
A man who caused almost £5,000 in damage after lighting a fire in a back garden of the house in Telford has been jailed for seven months after admitting reckless arson and a string of thefts.
Neil Kieran set the fire at his former home in Hayward Avenue, Donnington, on April 15.
He also admitted two charges of attempted theft, on April 15 and 18, and four charges of theft from a shop, between April 16 and June 3.
Kieran was sentenced to three months in prison at Telford Magistrates Court for the reckless arson offence.
He was also given a four-month sentence to run consecutively for one of the thefts, and three four month-sentences to run concurrently for the other theft offences.
The 39-year-old was also given two four-month sentences to run consecutively for the two attempted thefts charges.
Constable Nikki Scott said the investigation, had been run jointly with West Mercia Police, Shropshire Fire and Rescue and Wrekin Housing Trust.
Constable Scott said: "Kieran had been throwing out clothes and things into the back garden, much to the horror of his neighbour, and then set them alight.
"The report from the fire investigation officer showed that the white PVC doors had bubbled because of how hot the fire was.
"Taking into account the weather conditions that night which were extremely windy, more than usual, the time of night, coupled with the fact that the fire was too close to the property, only three to four metres away, and together with the amount of combustible materials in the garden, the decision taken to light the fire by Kieran was an inappropriate one."
She said: "Normally with arsons it is with intent to danger life or just arson, but because there were witnesses we were able to go forward with a reckless arson charge.
"He caused about £3,200 of damage to the house and £1,500 to the neighbour's."
