Man jailed over arson at scrap yard in industrial village
A man has been jailed for more than 10 years for his role in an arson attack on a scrap yard in a small industrial village on the Yorkshire coast.
Dwayne Davis was part of a group involved in the arson attack at the site on Hope Street in Port Clarence, which caused damage to four vans, a forklift truck, a bus and a storage unit.
Davis was identified from CCTV footage through his clothing and trainers.
The 29-year-old, of Laurel Road in Middlesbrough, was jailed for 10 years and five months after being convicted of two counts of arson following a trial.
Cleveland Police said an off-duty police officer reported a blaze at the scrap yard on June 2 last year at around 12.30am.
Detectives quickly worked out fires had been ignited deliberately inside the vehicles as well as around various locations in the yard.
Teesside Crown Court heard how footage captured an individual putting their hand through the back windscreen of a car that had the glass removed and pulling out a green container. Within 20 seconds, it is on fire.
CCTV footage showed Davis - who had stood watching - get into a vehicle and drive away. Davis drove the group to Raleigh Road where he stood and watched a caravan be set alight.
He was arrested on the same day as the attack at a petrol station on Durham Road.
Investigating officer Detective Inspector Sarah Beadle said: “Our investigation quickly identified Davis as the driver of the vehicle that travelled to the scrap yard and Raleigh Road to assist others in setting the caravan and the scrap yard alight.
“This was through the CCTV footage that we obtained and reviewed. Davis was identifiable through the clothing he was wearing at the time of the arson, and he could also be seen entering his property in the same clothes.
“Despite the evidence against Davis, he refused to admit to what he had done however a jury saw through his lies and he will now face the consequences by spending time behind bars.”