A man from Stoke-on-Trent has been jailed for deliberately setting a car alight in Leek in 2022.

Lee Bould, aged 41, from Hanley, denied arson but was found guilty following trial at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court on Thursday (9 January).

The court heard how Bould had been on Southbank Street in Leek at around 11pm on 19 November 2022 where a blue Seat Leon and a Ford Puma were parked. 

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service were called to the location a short time later and both vehicles were found burnt out. 

The cost of the damage to the vehicles was estimated as being around £22,500.

Bould has been sentenced to two years and one month in prison (Staffordshire Police).

Fire investigators were initially unable to determine the cause of the fire as both cars were severely damaged. 

However, CCTV inquiries showed Bould at the scene, crouching by the Seat prior to it being found alight, with the fire then spreading to engulf the Ford. 

Bould was initially arrested on 1 December 2022 and released under investigation while police continued to gather evidence. 

He was arrested again at the end of the month and he was later charged. 

Bould denied starting the fire in interview and pleaded not guilty to arson in court. 

However, he was found guilty following trial and sentenced to two years and one month in prison.

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READ MORE: Woman in her 70s suffers head injury in multi-vehicle collision in Stoke-on-Trent

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