Man handed two year prison sentence for dealership arson attack

Seven cars destroyed in seemingly random act

Man handed two year prison sentence for dealership arson attack
Image: Devon and Cornwall Police.

A man has been jailed for two years following an arson attack on a car dealership in Plymouth which caused £100,000 worth of damage.

The incident at Platinum Car Centre, in Ham Drive, Peverell, saw seven cars destroyed in the blaze.

Seven cars were destroyed in the blaze at Platinum Car Centre in Plymouth.

Stephen Ready had previously pleaded not guilty to the arson when appearing at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court in March and was remanded in custody to appear in Plymouth Crown Court last week (April 12) having changed his plea to guilty.

Ready had been banned from driving for 425 days in April 2020 but was seen on December 9, the night of the incident driving a Renault Megane.

He filled up his car at the petrol station in Carkeel before making off without paying.

Related: Rogue car dealer avoids jail despite £190,000 in fraudulent sales

He proceeded to another petrol station where he filled up a petrol can.

Then he left there and headed to Platinum Car Centre at around 1.15 at on December 10 and was caught on CCTV climbing over the railings at the car dealership.

Ready was then seen walking up and down the forecourt, smashing cars’ windows and pouring petrol on three of the cars.

He left the petrol can on the bonnet of a car and set it alight.

 

The CCTV then caught him fleeing the scene.

Owner of Platinum Car Centre, James Alford said he had never had any issues before, having been at the location for 11 years.

When the prosecutor was asked if police knew why this dealership had been targeted, they responded ‘no’ and that ‘it’s fair to say the police are in the dark as to why this took place’, according to the Plymouth Herald.

The pub next door had to be evacuated when the blaze started and emergency services were called.

The court heard Alford used his own funds to replace the destroyed stock while waiting for the insurance money.

Ready’s DNA was found at the dealership and he was arrested.

Related: Mechanic who made £1.5k a week selling cocaine spared prison sentence

Although this was his first arson, the court heard of his lengthy history of 54 convictions for 103 offences.

The court was told how Ready had lost his job during the pandemic and that he self-medicated for anxiety with cocaine.

He claimed that turning 40 while on remand had led to a period of reflection and intent to change his ways.

Mr Recorder Levene asked advocate for Ready, Nick Lewin, if there was any reason he could see why his client would carry out the arson.

Related: Catalytic converter thief found dead under car

The Plymouth Herald reported Lewin said those addicted to class A drugs often ‘end up inevitably prey to those who would utilise you for things that you otherwise would not do’.

He added that his client had always said the attack was ‘nothing personal’.

Ready was jailed for 24 months and disqualified from driving for three years.

He was also given a seven-day jail sentence for failing to pay for for his fuel but this would run concurrently to the two years.

Home Page Forums Man handed two year prison sentence for dealership arson attack

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    A man has been jailed for two years following an arson attack on a car dealership in Plymouth which caused £100,000 worth of damage. The incident at P
    [See the full post at: Man handed two year prison sentence for dealership arson attack]

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    Meat
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    Utter fud, the judge not the guy, should have been 10 years in gaol
    His cell should be a burnt out one with burnt bed spring and smell of smoke pumped in hourly with heating set to 28 deg c all day every day
    Windows boared over

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