Protester locked up for torching a police van during demonstration in Leeds
He’s been locked up for more than 10 years
A protester who torched a police van during a clash in Leeds city centre has been jailed.
Hakam Ghaith, 29, has been locked up after pleading guilty to arson with recklessness to whether life was endangered.
The charge relates to an incident which occurred in Leeds city centre on November 1 last year.
Emergency crews were called to Calverley Street at 2.33pm as the van blaze was started.
Calverley Street was cordoned off between Great George Street and The Headrow, where the demonstration had been taking place that was thought to be in support of Palestine.
Fire crews extinguished the blaze and a man was arrested, police reported at the time.
Ghaith, of no fixed abode, appeared at Leeds Crown Court today (Friday August 21) for sentencing.
He was jailed for ten years and eight months.
PC Charlotte Sampson, of Leeds CID, said: “Ghaith’s actions that day put himself and others in danger with him using accelerant to set a police vehicle on fire.
“He did not know if there was anyone in the vehicle at the time and given how busy the area was, there was also potential for others in the vicinity to be hurt.
“Thankfully, no one was injured but the damage caused to the vehicle took a vital resource out of service, impacting on our ability to be able to respond to incidents and protect the public."