A 22-year-old man suffering from mental-health difficulties has been sentenced after attempting to start a fire at a forecourt in Ipswich, Suffolk.
Staff at the EG On The Move site on Woodbridge Road East shut off the forecourt’s pumps after seeing Luke Byfield standing by them flicking a lighter on 5 March, Ipswich Crown Court heard.
Byfield left the forecourt and was found lying on the ground in a nearby alleyway with cuts to his arms. He told an ambulance-crew member he wanted to blow up the forecourt, and threatened to light a deodorant can. On being taken to hospital he told police he wanted to end his life.
In court, Byfield admitted attempted arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered. His lawyer described him as “an isolated and vulnerable young man”.
Judge Nicola Talbot- Hadley gave Byfield a three-year community order, required him to undertake a 12-month alcohol treatment course, and ordered him to do 60 hours of unpaid work.
She told him “messing around with fire around a petrol station is very dangerous”, and added: “I want to try and get it right for you and get you the help you need”.
