Man jailed for six months after admitting he set off fireworks in street
A MAN has been jailed for six months after he set off fireworks in a busy street.
Norman Wood, 48, lit the fireworks outside St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, Orkney, on the afternoon of Saturday December 30.
The town’s Broad Street filled with smoke, obscuring the view of drivers in the area.
Wood was sentenced at Kirkwall Sheriff Court on Wednesday after he pled guilty to discharging the fireworks in a culpable and reckless manner.
Nobody was hurt, but he admitted his actions had created “projectiles” which risked causing injury to people in an area busy with pedestrians and cars.
Details of the sentence were confirmed by court officials and police, who warned about the dangers of misusing fireworks.
Orkney area commander, Chief Inspector Matt Webb, said: “Norman Wood’s actions were entirely reckless and it is fortunate that nobody was injured as a result.
“Fireworks can be incredibly dangerous when not used safely and the conse- quences of his behaviour could have been far more severe.
“My message is simple – we will not tolerate the misuse of fireworks and will take action against anyone who sets them off in a reckless manner.”
He urged retailers to “be responsible” when it comes to the sale of fireworks and warned people if they had been drinking they should not set off fireworks.
And he added: “Do not set off fireworks in a public place – this is an offence which we will deal with robustly.”