An arsonist who targeted a car in Maidstone following an argument is starting a prison sentence.
During the evening of 19 May 2020, Tyler Mitchell drove to the Fant area intent on setting fire to a car belonging to a person he had argued with previously.
He brought with him a bottle of white spirit, some tissue paper and a lighter for this purpose.
Having parked his car, he walked to the victim’s address where a Volkswagen was parked on a driveway alongside two other cars.
Mitchell then poured some white spirit onto the ground next to one of the tyres and set light to it using the tissue paper, before running from the scene.
The bottle of white spirit was discarded in a bin and Mitchell left the fire to spread to the three cars on the driveway, a tree and two rubbish bins.
The blaze was extinguished by fire crews and a subsequent investigation by Kent Police identified Mitchell’s car travelling to and from the area, immediately before and after the incident.
Following an examination of CCTV, investigators also located footage of Mitchell near the scene of the fire.
He was arrested the following day and admitted responsibility for the offence when interviewed.
Mitchell, of no fixed address, was later charged with three counts of arson and pleaded guilty to the indictments at Maidstone Crown Court.
On Tuesday 25 January 2022, the 23-year-old was sentenced to one year and eight months’ imprisonment.
Investigating officer, PC Jamie Webb, of Maidstone CID said: ‘Mitchell travelled to the scene of his crime with all the items needed to set fire to his victim’s car.
‘His actions were reckless in the extreme and it is fortunate that the swift actions of Kent Fire and Rescue Service brought the blaze under control before it could spread further.
‘Such actions demand a prison sentence and it is right that he is now behind bars.’