Jilted boyfriend jailed after torching love rival's car
A SPURNED lover who set fire to a car belonging to his ex-partner's new boyfriend has been jailed.
Scott McGraw, aged 23, targeted the vehicle after failing to come to terms with the breakdown of his relationship, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard yesterday.
David Bennett, prosecuting, said McGraw's relationship with Amy Blagg ended in January and, shortly afterwards, she entered into a relationship with one of his friends.
"He was upset and angry when he found out she had started the relationship with Matthew Allerton," said Mr Bennett.
****Best Deals**** Van Insurance for 17-24 Yr Old Drivers - Contact Insure365 on 01782 898188
Terms: 1 Voucher Per Customer
Contact: 01782 898188
Valid until: Friday, July 19 2013
The court heard McGraw sent Miss Blagg a series of abusive texts on June 24.
And at 2am on June 26 he went to Park Hall Service Station, in Longton, and filled a container with £3.33 worth of petrol before leaving without paying.
"Shortly after, he was seen in the vicinity of Miss Blagg's address in Longton," said Mr Bennett.
"Mr Allerton was staying at the address and his Audi was parked in a road nearby."
The court heard that McGraw used the petrol and a lighter to set fire to Mr Allerton's Audi, worth £4,000.
But the court heard that the flames from fire spread to a Fiat van, valued at £3,500.
Both vehicles were written off and firefighters were called to put out the flames.
Police went to the defendant's address in Blackheath Close, Longton, and McGraw pulled up in his van at 2.40am.
He initially gave false details to the police and refused to give a breath test.
But he was breathalysed at the police station and gave a reading of 111 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres if breath – the legal limit is 35.
McGraw, now of Sydenham Place, Bentilee, pleaded guilty to theft of petrol, two charges of arson, driving when over the drink-drive limit, sending an offensive message and obstructing a police constable.
The court heard the defendant had a previous conviction of driving with excess alcohol in 2008.
Lee Masters, mitigating, said McGraw had difficulty in accepting his relationship with Miss Blagg was over.
"In his mind, the aggravating feature was that his ex had moved on relatively quickly," he said.
He added that McGraw had a new partner and was due to become a father in December.
Judge Robert Trevor-Jones described it as a 'sad case' but said the arson offences were 'desperately serious'.
He added: "It all arose due to the breakdown of the relationship and your reaction, that your former girlfriend had taken up with another man, a friend.
"You were feeling extremely hurt and distressed.
"You are not the first and won't be the last but you can't go on like this.
"You contacted her in an abusive way and you then set fire to the car of her new boyfriend.
"That spread. That is the real danger of fire. You could have caused untold havoc in the street."
The judge jailed McGraw for 21 months and disqualified him from driving for three years.
Sixty-two days will be deducted due to the 124 days McGraw spent on curfew.
Comments
by warren46
Saturday, November 05 2011, 9:34AM
“Ausiegirl, how I see this is the guy who beat the other one two an extent that he needs a plate put in his face needs to go to prison, but this ones actions are even more lawless. Regardless of what anyone says hear, Scott McGraw drove while drunk, took petrol without paying, used it to set fire to two cars in a street where people live, witch could have spread and put the public at risk, and then misled the police in there investigation of the crime of drink driving witch he had committed before. No matter what made his do this, he needs to be in prison as his action need punishing in this way.
If you lot don't like it, go boil your heads.”
by dragon89
Friday, November 04 2011, 11:29PM
“im sorry but this is pathetic as steph5370 says they were both cheatin and for sayin he did this because she moved on so quickly well didnt he as he got someone pregnant even if she did sleep with his mate that doesnt give him the right to torch her car. this cud have ended up much worse just because he might be your family or friend it doesnt give you the right to try and justifie it, if miss blagg was a part of your family would you be defending him then no i dnt think so! i do agree tht he is serving his time but people on here are entitled to their opinion”
by ausiegirl
Friday, November 04 2011, 12:21PM
“I can't understand how one man, who beat another man in an unprovoked attack, causing major injury is given a suspended sentence, and someone who sets fire to a car goes to prison. I am not saying the guy should not have gone to prison but it seems strange that a damaged car seems more serious than a damaged human.”
by graham44d
Thursday, November 03 2011, 10:49PM
“Anyone got a light???????????????????????????Just asking!!!!!!!!!!!”
by warren46
Thursday, November 03 2011, 7:05PM
“Drunk driving, not once, but twice, thats unforgivable, END OF. You in no way can defend that, if it was a member of my family doing this, I would not defend them in anyway, anywhere. Put endangering the public in that mix, by setting two cars on fire in a public street, I'd more them likely want nothing to do with them ever again. But still that's just me.”
by Anon_mow_cop
Thursday, November 03 2011, 6:25PM
“@robyn94 Look on the brightside, you have all that time Mr McGraw is in prison to compile a list of excuses to post here the next time he ends up in court, as I am sure he will do as night follows day.To paraphrase the old saying "Nobody is above the law, not Caeser's wife, not Scott McGraw"”
by mousey32
Thursday, November 03 2011, 4:06PM
“WHO IS WARREN 46????????? HOW CHILDISH HE SEEMS, DOES HE LIVE IN LONGTON THE WITCHHUNT PEOPLE!!!”
by Thevoice123
Thursday, November 03 2011, 3:25PM
“Amy Blagg wants gassing,full stop”
by david112011
Thursday, November 03 2011, 2:03PM
“Did he break the law? Yes - then he deserves all he gets. This is the be all and end all. I am saddened that society thinks it acceptable to lead very 'Jeremy Kyle' style lives. I feel sorry for the poor child who will be brought up thinking that this was OK and that Daddy 'has done a stretch'. People are not 'embarrassed' by going to prison anymore or being in trouble - its almost like a status symbol. I feel sorry for Scott I do, but he must realise that he is not above the Law - he could have exacted more revenge had he have ignored his ex partners messages - that would have given him the moral high ground over anything else he could possibly have done - and No, not everything has to be solved with fists or violence. What goes around comes around.
At the end of the day the law is the law - you cannot go about throwing your weight around or causing criminal damage because you dont like something. I wish Scott well for the future and hope that he shields his child from this JK style life that he is part of - and leaves well clear of Amy.”
by robyn94
Wednesday, November 02 2011, 9:48PM
“no matter what he did he is always goin to be family and he doesnt need people who no nothing about whats happened to be judging him why dont you all go get a life and find something what actually concerns u too be involved in! END OFF”