Arsonists who fled to Spain face justice

23/12/2011

A group of people involved in an arson at a car recovery yard have been sentenced at Manchester Crown Court.

Two of those who set the recovery yard alight, Richard Smith and Jared Jones, tried to evade capture by fleeing the country to Spain.  Smith had escaped from a prison van as he was being driven to Salford Magistrates Court in May 2011 to face charges for the arson.  Jared Jones was also wanted in connection with the arson. 

Smith and Jones were subsequently located in Spain by police.  An application was made by the CPS for a European Arrest Warrant and they were arrested in Spain in September 2011.  They were both extradited back to the UK in October 2011.

The fire caused hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to buildings owned by the vehicle recovery firm in Walkden, Salford.  CCTV showed three people wearing balaclavas set fire to a BMW in the vehicle compound that had been involved in a road traffic collision in June 2009. 

Following the sentencing Ben Southam, Senior Crown Prosecutor in the North West Complex Casework Unit, said: "These offenders thought they could get away with serious crime but justice has finally been served today.

"Richard Smith and Jared Jones went to great lengths to evade capture and I'm pleased that the persistence and hard work of the police and CPS has resulted in them finally facing the consequences for their actions.  The message these sentences send out is clear.  We will pursue criminals no matter where they try to hide and bring them before the courts to answer for their crimes."

Richard Smith has been jailed for 11 years in total. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson and escaping from lawful custody at an earlier hearing. He was also sentenced to three years for money laundering.

Jared Jones has been jailed for five years. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson at an earlier hearing.

Karl Taylor has been jailed for two years, to run consecutively on top of a sentence he is already serving. He pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit arson.

Anthony Ordish was jailed for 21 months. He was found guilty of perverting the course of justice by a jury.

Donna Davies was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months. She pleaded guilty to perverting the course of justice.

Richard Smith's wife, Lisa Smith, has been jailed for 18 months for money laundering and fraud.

A hearing will take place in 2012 under the Proceeds of Crime Act to determine whether any assets of Richard and Lisa Smith should be confiscated.