Wick car torch trio stay out of jail
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A SHERIFF told three young people who torched a car in Wick what they did was “extremely serious, foolish and dangerous” and stressed the consequences could have been much worse.
But Sheriff Andrew Berry decided not to impose custodial sentences on Brett Webster and Andrew Beresford, both 18, and 20-year-old Rachel Jones.
The sheriff told the trio on Friday he came “very close” to locking them up but decided to impose community payback orders instead.
Sheriff Berry described the accused’s behaviour as “foolhardy” and said the emergency services have enough to do without dealing with deliberate fire-raising carried out by “misguided ?individuals”.
He made his comments when Webster, Beresford and Jones appeared for sentence at Wick Sheriff Court.
The two young men previously admitted wilfully setting fire to a Seat Leon car which belonged to Christopher Hendry in Wellington Street on March 4. Jones denied the offence but was found guilty after trial last month.
The court heard the motive for the fire-raising was to get back at Hendry – a former boyfriend of Jones – for the way he allegedly treated her. The plot was hatched when all three accused were in Jones’ flat late in the evening of March 3.
Webster and Beresford got a can of diesel and soaked a sock in it before setting light to the vehicle. The £6500 Seat was destroyed in the blaze, while a car which belonged to Hendry’s father was also damaged.
The court heard of the frantic efforts made by Mr Hendry and his son to fight the fire after they were wakened by a loud bang.
Jones claimed she had just watched the two youths commit the offence and had not taken part.
However, the court heard she had encouraged the pair to go through with the plan and celebrated after the car went on fire.
Solicitor Ross Gray, representing Webster, said his client had been frank and forthright about his involvement and had not tried to minimise his role. The agent pointed out Webster had “an unstable upbringing” but is involved in a training programme with the aim of securing work in the future.
Mr Gray asked the court to impose a community rather than a custodial sentence on his client.
A similar plea was made by solicitor Neil Wilson, for Beresford, who, he said, had taken “full responsibility for his actions”.
“There were times when he did not realise how serious this matter is but he does now,” said the agent.
Mr Wilson stated Beresford plans to move back to England. “He is keen to put this behind him and make a positive contribution to society,” added the solicitor.
Agent Alex Burn, who represented Jones, said she was not involved in the fire-raising but “fully accepts acting in concert” with the other two.
“She got involved in a foolish act of extreme folly,” Mr Burn said. But he stressed Jones intends to go to Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen to study mechanical engineering.
She was placed on a community payback order and will be under supervision for 12 months. Jones, of Roxburgh Road, Wick, will also have to carry out 240 hours of unpaid work in the community.
Webster, of Harrow Terrace, Wick, and Beresford, who stays in Hollow Park, Golspie, were each put on community payback orders and will be under supervision for two years. They will each have to carry out 180 hours unpaid work in the community.
