A DEPRESSED man repaid the kindness of a friend by burning down his business premises, a court heard.

Alan Prest obtained petrol and started a blaze at a car warehouse, where he had been allowed to sleep, which destroyed the building. He then drove to the home of the business owner, Richard Burgess, with a can of petrol and three kitchen knives, but left after he was seen by Mr Burgess’s wife and daughter.

Bradford Crown Court heard that the contents of the building, the Clutch Centre and Knightsbridge Transmission Services, in Handel Street, Listerhills, Bradford, were not insured and the fire had cost Mr Burgess £100,000.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Roger Thomas QC, imposing five years imprisonment with an extended 30 months licence, told 58-year-old Prest he had repaid the kindness of Mr Burgess and his family in a terrible way. The judge added: “This is having an ongoing effect upon them and at the time was a massively frightening event.”

Prosecutor Graham O’Sullivan said Mr Burgess had allowed Prest to live and sleep at the warehouse for two years, as an act of kindness. He had been allowed to keep some of his vehicles at the site, but on Saturday, August 6, he was asked to move them, which was a trigger for what happened.

He told a friend he would go to the home of Mr Burgess with a knife and “slit his throat.”

At 9pm a witness saw Prest’s car being driven away from the Clutch Centre. He then saw thick smoke billowing out of the roof. A large fire quickly developed, suggesting accelerants had been used. The building was completely burned out. Police were alerted but when two officers tried to arrest Prest, he assaulted them. Prest, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to arson, possessing offensive weapons and assaulting the officers.

His solicitor advocate, Anne-Marie Hutton, said he had no previous convictions and had demonstrated real and genuine remorse. He had lost sentimental items in the fire, including photographs of his mother and her ashes.

Judge Thomas said Prest posed a significant risk. He made an indefinite restraining order, preventing him having any contact with the Burgess family or going within 100 metres of their home or business.

Prest also admitted drink driving and was banned from driving for five years.

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