Man rang police to say he'd 'fired' car

Richard Allen set the car alight outside Accrington police station in Spring Gardens before making a phone call to confess he was responsible.

Allen, 21, of Pinewood Drive, Accrington, was given a two years community rehabilitation when he appeared for sentence at Preston Crown Court. He had earlier pleaded guilty to arson.

Judith McCullough, prosecuting, said the marked police vehicle was set on fire outside the police station in the early

hours of April 15, 2002.

The front nearside wheel arch was on fire and the bonnet ablaze. A petrol-type can was spotted nearby. While officers were there a message was received about someone ringing the station from a nearby 'phone kiosk, claiming to be responsible.

An officer went to the telephone kiosk and Allen was arrested there. He went on to say "I fired it".

An investigation into the cause of the fire showed something had been poured onto the vehicle. There was no obvious source of ignition from the engine compartment.

The cost of repair was £4,000. The court heard that Allen had earlier been filmed on video while filling a can with £1.94 worth of petrol at a service station on Manchester Road, Accrington. At that time it was noticed that the defendant was behaving strangely, said the prosecution.

Charles Brown, defending, said that the case was driven by Allen's mental condition. A common thread in pre-sentence and psychiatric reports on the defendant was that his condition had improved during the period the documents were prepared.

He had spent some time in custody on remand.

"He appreciates what he did and what he has to do. The most constructive way of dealing with him, not only for him, but for the community, would be a community rehabilitation order".

Judge Edward Slinger passed such a sentence, telling Allen that immediate prison sentences would normally follow such arson offences.

He also told him "Quite clearly, at that time you were far from well but you are aware what you did was a criminal offence".