An arsonist has been jailed after he set fire to £41,000 worth of cars held in a police lock-up awaiting forensic analysis in a bid to cover up another crime.
Leeds Crown Court heard Georgie Greechan and accomplices went to the compound in Armley on March 22, 2018, and used an accelerant before lighting it.
Multiple cars were damaged during the blaze which a judge said had an element of planning due to escape ladders being placed on the inside of the wire fencing to help escape.
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Judge Guy Kearl QC said Greechan set fire to a large number of vehicles in a “targeted” attack at a compound surrounded with razor wire.
The cars inside had been recovered by police and were awaiting forensic analysis.
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Judge Kearl added that the arson attack, which had been masterminded by others and not Greechan, was “motivated by the desire to conceal other offences”.
However, it was made clear that Greechan had nothing to do with the plotting of the ladder inside the compound and had effectively been recruited to help carry out the arson attack.
An aggravating feature in the case was the size of the fire and the risk at which the fire service were put at as they attempted to put it out.
The court heard Greechan, of Addingham Gardens, Leeds, had struggled with drug addiction in the past but has moved away from drug use.
He was convicted of arson and sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison.
