Arsonist caused £10k of damage
AN ARSONIST caused £10,000 worth of damage by starting fires in a business park.
KJ Jenks had no apparent motivation for the attack on three units at Bridgend Industrial Estate but was going through personal difficulties at the time, Cardiff Crown Court heard.
Prosecutor Tabitha Walker said firefighters had to tackle one fire at Spartan Motor Factors and another across the road at medical manufacturer Technovent on September 12 – both started by Jenks.
The 26-year-old, had set a bin alight outside Technovent as well as leaving large burn marks on Spartan’s corrugated exterior.
The building of a printing operation called KK Solutions also suffered “largely cosmetic” damage.
Speaking to firefighters on the scene, Jenks admitted causing the blaze. Jenks walked away but returned shortly afterwards. By this time police were present. The officer recognised Jenks from “previous dealings”.
As Jenks was arrested they asked police: “Can I have something to eat when I go into custody?”
Police found a lighter on Jenks, who said: “I didn’t want it to come to this. I just wanted some sleep and some food.”
Some £10,000 worth of property across three businesses was damaged and a bin valued at £270 was destroyed.
Jenks, who had been staying at accommodation in South Road, pleaded guilty to three counts of arson.
William Bebb, mitigating, said Jenks was going through “a difficult time” and had been experiencing “a lot of personal difficulties”.
The court heard they had shown “genuine remorse” over the arson.
Despite the damage, no compensation order was imposed due to the defendant’s lack of means.
But there was an outburst from Jenks after Judge David Wynn Morgan said he would adjourn sentencing.
Jenks had been remanded at a young offender institution since the arrest – and although the judge was prepared to suspend a 10-month jail term, he would not do so until Jenks had a stable address to stay at following their discharge from custody.
Jenks, who was unhappy to have to wait another two days to be sentenced, said: “I’m going and I’m not coming back [for the next hearing].”
At the start of the next hearing, Mr Bebb said his client would like to “apologise for their rudeness” and that it had been arranged that Jenks would stay in a friend’s spare bedroom in Sarn after release.
Judge Morgan accepted the apology and told Jenks: “What concerned me was that it appeared there was nowhere for you to go on your release. I didn’t want to pass sentence until that was resolved. I read in your papers that you were very anxious to return to your partner but everyone trying to help you is of the opinion that, were you to resume your relationship on a co-habiting basis with your partner, social services would intervene and that would affect your rehabilitation.
“Now there is somewhere for you to go and, if I may say so, you should be very grateful to [your friend] for offering you accommodation.”
As well as a 10-month sentence, suspended for two years, the judge ordered Jenks to complete 20 rehabilitation days and pay a £187 victim services surcharge.
Following the hearing, the managing director of KK Solutions, Ian Jessopp said: “Thankfully there were no staff present at the time of the incident and damage to the building was largely cosmetic which did not prevent us going about our daily business.”