A Ryde man has admitted arson after he put a hot disposable BBQ in a green wheelie bin causing it to catch fire.
Lee Cross, 36, of Sherbourne Avenue in Ryde pleaded guilty to 4x assault by beating of an emergency worker, 2x common assault of an emergency worker, drink driving, using threatening words/behaviour to cause harassment alarm or distress and arson when he appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates Court on Tuesday (23rd May).
Liz Miller, prosecuting, told the court that on the 15th April Police received reports that a wheelie bin was on fire near Cross’ home address.
CCTV footage captured on a nearby Ring doorbell showed Cross on his neighbour’s property. Then, just a short while later, the CCTV showed the green recycling bin well alight down a side alley.
The bin was put in the road by the owner who then called the Police. Firefighters from Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service were also called.
Hose reel jets were quickly used to extinguish the blaze with Cross attempting to put the blaze out himself with a solitary bucket of water.
On 5th May, Cross was seen on Garfield Road in Ryde in his Mazda 2 and was challenged by a member of the public who thought he might have been drink driving. Police were called after Cross and the male in question became embroiled in a war of words with Cross directing abuse toward the good samaritan.
Cross became aggressive towards the officers and resisted their attempts to arrest him, spitting at 1 officer and kicking another. Having been taken to Newport Police Station Cross then attempted to bite 2 officers whilst he was still detained.
At the Police Station, a specimen was taken for analysis which returned a reading of 71 – the legal limit is 35.
Defending, Michael McGoldrick said that his client had made full and frank admissions in interview. He also added that Cross had been having a BBQ at his home and that he had used his neighbour’s bin because his was full, but didn’t realise that the BBQ was still hot when he placed it in the bin.
Magistrates ordered that the case be adjourned for sentencing until 30th June to allow a pre-sentence report to be compiled. Cross was handed an interim driving ban in the meantime.
well it is the isle of Wight
Are we to take it that Mr Cross is, well, how can I put it politely…. a bit dim?
No a dim bin
What a delightful man. His mum must be really proud of him.
So he owned up to the crime he committed and also that he was drunk and all that results in was saving police time. I do hope this is not another “slap wrist” when it comes to sentencing the dangers of his actions could have indirectly cost lives.
Let’s hope he gets put away! He certainly didn’t put any bbq in the bin. My friends were lucky he didn’t burn there house down whilst there children slept. They deserve justice