Beer-fuelled neighbour lit fire as protest

A furious drunken neighbour used petrol to start a fire near a gas mains after becoming angry at a noisy stag party next door.

- by Nick Frame nick.frame@ nationalworld.com @JournoNF

The pair had never had any issues previously, but Richard Armstrong lost his temper and lit the blaze in the front garden of his neighbouring property in Cutsyke Hill, Castleford. He poured a trail of petrol to the gas box next to the house, but it did not take hold.

The 60-year-old admitted a charge of arson as to whether life would be endangered. He has no previous convictions.