Two men have been locked up after setting fire to a shop in Shipley causing £40,000 of damage to the building in an arson attack.

Nathan Stewart, 21, and Kieran Edgar, 20, both of Aireville Road, Shipley, were each sentenced to 32 months in prison. Edgar was also given an extended licence period of two years.

Bradford Crown Court heard how the pair, who had both been living in supported accommodation, broke a window at a shop on Bradford Road, using a lighter to set fire to a pillow, before pushing it back through the broken window to effectively set light to the premises inside.

The incident in October 2020 took place shortly before 11pm, when the owner of the shop, who lived in the flat above, was not at home.

Prosecutor Adam Walker said Matthew Smith was alerted to the incident by a home security app and he could see what he thought were flames, so contacted the fire service and set off home.

Mr Walker said two men were caught on CCTV, with one attempting to use a lighter to set fire to the contents through the broken window, before making use of a pillow.

A fire service report outlined how a brick had been used to break the window and no signs of an accelerant were found in the shop, which was used for storage only.

“The damage involved is £40,000. It has caused considerable disruption to the business,” Mr Walker said.

The pair admitted arson with intent to destroy or damage property or being reckless as to whether the property would be destroyed or damaged and intending by the damage to endanger the life of another person. They also admitted arson and two counts of criminal damage.

Earlier that same evening the men caused £2,200 of damage to the windows of Hallroyd Methodist Church at Bradford Road, Shipley, and £75 damage to a car parked outside, by throwing stones.

Mr Walker told the court that at around 9.30pm they damaged two church windows, including a stained glass window dating back to 1937, as well as smashing the driver’s side window of a choir member’s Mitsubishi Colt and denting it too.

In May this year at around 3.55am the pair were also caught on CCTV at Midland Road in Frizinghall, setting fire to a black metal council bin, causing £325 of damage.

In both instances Stewart told the authorities about what they had done and both men admitted their guilt in police interview.

Christopher Morton for Stewart, said he believed the shop was empty at the time and admitted he had handed Edgar a lighter. He added that of the May 2021 incident Stewart remembers telling Edgar to stop as he set the bin alight.

Stewart had been brought up in the care system and had been a victim of crimes. He was also diagnosed with autism and post traumatic stress disorder and was taking anti-depressants. A psychological report described him as having an intellectual development disorder.

In mitigation for Edgar, he was taken into care aged 13 and had been subject to neglect.

He has a diagnosis of ADHD and a recent psychological report indicated his IQ was in the bottom two per cent of the population, with an equivalent mental functioning age of 10 years and 11 months.

Stewart will serve half of his sentence in custody before being released on licence. Edgar will serve two thirds of his sentence before the Parole Board can consider his release.