Employee jailed for arson attack (From Daily Echo)

Worker jailed for arson attack on County Caterers in Eastleigh

3:00pm Tuesday 7th February 2012 in Crime

AN EMPLOYEE who torched the catering firm where he worked causing half-a-million pounds’ worth of damage has been jailed for four years.

Julian White, 54, was convicted of arson after a jury heard how he deliberately set fire to the premises used by County Caterers for whom he had worked for 20 years.

The blaze destroyed the unit at Brookwood Industrial estate in Eastleigh that was rented by the firm to prepare food for outside catering events.

White helped in the preparation and worked at functions for the business, owned by long standing friend Paul Gillingham.

The jury at Southampton Crown Court was told on the day of the fire the pair had been at the unit preparing for a function that evening and Mr Gillingham had been the last to leave at around 5pm. He was at the function when he received the call from the fire service.

Mr Gillingham explained how his entire stock of equipment had been lost in the fire, which he had no hope of replacing as the business was not insured at the time of the incident in November 2010.

An investigation found CCTV footage showing a man identified as White returning to the unit that evening, shortly after which the fire began. Petrol had been used.

White, of Thurmond Crescent, Winchester, claimed he had simply stopped off at the business to use the toilet.

But the jury did not believe him and convicted him unanimously on one count of arson.

The jury heard from Mr Gillingham how the business was in potential financial trouble as it was being taken to court by Winchester City Council for allegedly breaching a prohibition notice that prevented it from operating at a previous premises.

In sentencing White judge Gary Burrell QC said: “It is not easy to say why you did this but the evidence could suggest you may have done so in some form of misguided attempt to help Mr Gillingham out of whatever financial trouble he was in at the time. Whatever the motive, it was a very significant fire. As a result Mr Gillingham’s livelihood has been severely affected.”