Motorist jailed for setting fire to a speed camera that snapped him breaking the limit

A man who set fire to a speed camera which clocked him breaking the limit the day before has been jailed.

Adrian Smith set fire to the camera on the A57 at Newton-on-Trent after returning to the scene within 48 hours of being caught speeding.

Jonathon Dee, prosecuting, at Lincoln Crown Court yesterday said Smith placed a number of tyres around the camera and used an accelerant to set it alight.

Mr Dee said: "The camera was damaged to a very significant extent. The value of the damage was £24,000.

"The defendant was traced through automatic number plate recognition cameras."

Police later visited Smith at his home near Worksop and he made admissions saying he acted in panic.

He said he thought he would face a driving ban under the totting up procedure which he believed would be triggered by additional points going on his licence.

While officers were at the property they discovered a cannabis growing operation in the basement with over 80 plants at various stages of development.

Smith said he used cannabis because of chronic pain he suffered. He said he was the gardener and the plants being grown in his home were for a dealer who intended to sell them.

Smith ,46, of Shireoaks Common, Shireoaks, Worksop, admitted arson as a result of the speed camera incident on 23 February. He also admitted producing cannabis and possession of cannabis with intent to supply.

Judge Sean Morris told him "You are not the first person to stand before me for setting fire to a speed camera. People need to know that anyone who does that will go to prison.

"These speed cameras save lives. They moderate people's driving. A custodial sentence is inevitable."

Martin Keys, defending, urged that Smith should receive a suspended sentence and told the court:"He has always been very remorseful.

"From the start he has always apologised.

"He did something very serious and now he is paying the price."

He said Smith would lose his job as a security worker if he were jailed.

"He was working up to yesterday," he said: "His job is on hold pending the outcome of this hearing."

After the case John Siddle of the Lincolnshire Road Safety Partnership said: "These things are always done in a moment of madness and people think they will not get caught.

"The reality is that when a camera is attacked we will always pursue those responsible and we will catch them.

"The sites where these cameras are placed are where death and serious injury has already occurred. The cameras are there to prevent further serious injury and death."