A Filton man who carried out a "wanton campaign of destruction" by torching multiple vehicles in Bradley Stoke and Stoke Gifford has been jailed. Daniel Cron was with an unidentified man when he set fire to the vehicles - including community group vans - in the early hours of April 3 last year.
Bristol Crown Court heard the trial of destruction caused £321, 544.77 damage. Cron, 26, of Eleventh Avenue in Filton, pleaded guilty to 21 charges of arson.
Judge Martin Picton jailed him for three years. Describing what happened as a "wanton campaign of destruction". He told Cron: "I don't know what possessed you and the other person that night to go and do this.
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"It is staggering, frankly, that you set fire to vehicles in such a determined, methodical way.. There has to be a sentence that reflects the serious nature of the offences you committed that night, so society understands a price is paid for doing the wrong thing. You should be really, really ashamed of what you did, it was terrible."
On the morning of the incident residents woke to a series of large bangs. It was reported that around 40 vehicles were set alight - including 20 from a Rolls Royce facility. Residents near the plant in Filton, South Gloucestershire, reported they were awoken by loud bangs and could see a huge fire. Another 20 vehicles were set alight in the Bristol area in the early hours.
Avon and Somerset Police first received a call at about 1.30am about a vehicle on fire in New Road, Stoke Gifford. By 5.30am police said there were a further 20 reports of other vehicles on fire in Bradley Stoke, Little Stoke and Stoke Gifford.
Reports of fires at the Rolls Royce facility first came in at about 3.45am. Police said the loud bangs were probably fuel tanks exploding. Cron was identified from CCTV. But his accomplice remains unidentified.
Derek Perry, defending, told the court his client has learning difficulties and a a complex personality and had set fire to a van used by people with special educational needs. Mr Perry said there has been no intention to harm anyone, but conceded nothing could justify what his client did.
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