Jealous drug-addict jailed over car arson
A MAN torched a car belonging to his pregnant girlfriend’s aunt in a jealous rage.
On October 27, last year, Teesside dad Brandon Murray, 20, bombarded a man with messages over fears he was texting his girlfriend of six months. When the messages were ignored, Murray sent a further text saying “come and meet me now you little girl, I’ve already done your mam’s windows”.
Concerned, the man rang his mother who told him a rock had been thrown through a downstairs window in the early hours of the morning and caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
The offending didn’t stop there.
Days later, after drinking and taking drugs, Murray torched a car.
Prosecutor Shaun Dryden told Teesside Crown Court his now ex had been to a party and returned home to her aunt’s property at around 1am on October 30.
She was sent numerous messages, including one from the Billingham resident saying “watch what happens”.
He said: “She went to sleep but at 5.45am she was awoken by other members of the family who realised her aunt’s car was on fire. She immediately called the defendant who stated “your family’s houses are going up next”.
In a victim impact statement, her aunt said the incident has had a huge impact on her life as she needs a car to travel to and from her care worker job. She said: “I provide vital care to vulnerable people and can’t do my job without a vehicle.”
The court heard the defendant was arrested at around 7am on October 30 and told officers: “I don’t regret doing it. I wish I’d burnt the f***ing house down instead.” He told officers he had been drinking heavily and taken MDMA prior to the incident.
In mitigation, the court heard the Denbigh Road defendant has learned his lesson while on remand in Durham Prison and said his time in custody has been a “wake up” call.
While on remand he has worked with the drug and alcohol recovery teams (DART) in custody and is working with social services to see his baby daughter.
Teesside Crown Court heard a psychiatric report shows Murray struggles with his mental health and has been prescribed medication while in custody. He believes the offence was committed due to the deterioration of his mental health and cocaine addiction.
Sentencing the defendant, Recorder Aisha Wadoodi said: “On the 27th of October you sent a threatening message to Mr ***** asking him why he was contacting your girlfriend.
“He ignored those messages and you sent another saying meet me later I’ve done your mum’s windows. You’d caused damage to the tune of £600.
“For some reason you were extremely jealous. You sent [your girlfriend] a number of messages saying watch what happens. You then decided to take a taxi to the address of her aunt where she was staying and set fire to a car. You also said: ‘You’re family’s houses are going up next.’”
Murray pleaded guilty to arson, criminal damage, and threats to damage/destroy property.
He was sentenced to 27 months in prison and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.
It is not the first time the defendant has appeared before the courts.
In 2021, The Gazette reported from Teesside Magistrates’ Court on a high-speed police chase which saw the defendant crash into a hedgerow.
Murray mounted kerbs and drove across a playing field during the latenight chase which culminated in a dramatic fashion when he crashed into a hedge, which “lifted his vehicle into the air”.