Revenge attack arsonist from Swarcliffe struck outside house in Armley Leeds Crown Court told
and live on Freeview channel 276
Shane Kameka dumped the furniture outside the front door and poured petrol on it before setting it alight in the early hours revenge attack outside the house on Cedar Place in Armley, Leeds Crown Court heard.
Firefighters dealt with the blaze, which caused damage to the upvc window frames and front door of the back to back terraced house.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdIt also burned the carpet inside the front door of the house, which was unoccupied at the time.
The court heard that 39-year-old Kameka, of Langbar approach, Swarcliffe, Leeds, had a grudge against the man who lived at the house.
In his basis of plea which was read to the court, Kameka claimed the man had supplied spice to one of his friends and had tried to force Kameka's vehicle off the road.
Heather Gilmore, prosecuting, said two fire crews were called to deal with the fire at around 5.30am on July 2.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdMiss Gilmore said CCTV footage from a nearby property showed Kameka arriving in a white van at 5.30am before removing a sofa bed and a mattress from the back of the van and throwing them on the pavement.
The court heard Kameka could be seen pouring something from a white bottle on the furniture before setting it alight.
Father-of-two Kameka admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
He has 15 previous convictions for 25 offences including affray, possessing ecstasy with intent to supply, production of cannabis, theft and drink driving.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdRodney Ferm, mitigating, said: "The defendant intended a gesture, it was a dangerous gesture as he should have foreseen.
" Fortunately this fire was caught before it could do too much damage."
Mr Ferm said: "I cannot overemphasise the depth of remorse and desolation he feels."
Jailing Kameka for three-years-and-ten-months, Judge Robin Mairs told him: "There was a dispute between you and (the man). It appears to have been, on your account, over the supply of drugs to a friend and a previous incident of road rage."
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdJudge Mairs added: "The flames had started to reach inside the house before the fire brigade were able to extinguish it.
"This was a revenge attack and the use of accelerant is an aggravating feature.
"It's one thing to pile furniture against the door of an address, it's another to set it alight. There was the risk of catastrophe when multiple occupancy buildings are set alight."