Arsonist jailed over Masbrough petrol station blaze

Scott Dearing (36) was locked up for 45 months over the incident where he poured petrol over the newspaper stands and night hatch at the Jet Garage in Masbrough last November, before starting a blaze which engulfed the cashier’s kiosk.

Sheffield Crown Court heard how there had been more than 31,000 litres of fuel in underground tanks at the site, which could have caused a huge inferno if it had caught fire.

The court heard how Dearing, of Ash View, Greasbrough, had gone to the petrol station on Masbrough Street on November 12 to fill up two containers with fuel.

A police spokesperson said: “After successfully filling up the one approved petrol container, he tried to fill up a second unapproved container, which he was stopped from doing for safety reasons by the night cashier.

“Dearing began threatening the night cashier, and after they refused to switch the pump pack on, he poured petrol over the newspaper stands, night hatch and front entrance to the petrol station building and set it alight.

“Several minutes later, after clearly realising the seriousness of his actions, Dearing returned and put the fire out using sand, before being detained by police officers.

“He was found to be in possession of a bladed article, and during his arrest, attempted to assault a police officer and caused criminal damage to a police vehicle.”

Det Con Brad Hunt, who led the investigation into the incident, said: “This was an extremely dangerous incident which could have ended very badly.

“At the time when Dearing started the fire, a member of the public was waiting to be served at the night hatch, and the cashier was still inside the building.

“Not only could Dearing have caused very serious, if not fatal injuries to these two innocent people, but he also risked causing a significant fire or explosion.

“On investigating the crime, we established that there was 6,943 litres of diesel fuel in the underground tank where Dearing set fire to the fuel on the forecourt. In the other tanks, there were another 24,849 litres of fuel.

“Had any of the fuel in the underground tanks ignited, a major incident would have been declared leading to the evacuation of numerous businesses and residential properties, and likely causing fatalities.

“I am pleased that the sentence handed to Dearing reflects the seriousness of his reckless actions.”

Dearing admitted arson endangering life, possession of a bladed article, criminal damage to a vehicle and a public order offence and was sentenced on March 16.