Man hired by woman to blow up her mother-in-law's car as they feuded because she 'wasn't good enough' for victim's son is jailed for 16 months

The cash-strapped man who took just £150 from a feuding woman to blow up her mother-in-law's car has been jailed for 16 months.

Luke Williams,25,was enlisted by Alisha Anwar,29,to torch 54-year-old Christina Place's vehicle outside her Wrexham,North Wales,flat in a twisted revenge attack.

Mold Crown Court heard heard that Anwar orchestrated the petrol-bombing because she felt her mother-in-law thought she wasn't 'good enough' for her son.

Ms Place emerged to find her car ablaze,as flames spread to two other cars and a property which had to be evacuated.

It took two fire crews 90 minutes to bring the inferno under control during the 'terrifying' incident,the court heard. 

Sentencing Williams at Mold Crown Court (pictured),Judge Niclas Parry called the facts of this case 'frankly staggering'

Mr King said: 'Clearly had that been heated to boiling point by the car fire it could have exploded. Fortunately it did not.'

Mr King said Ms Evans realised her partner was involved and was so worried that she ended their relationship and told police.

Officers found Williams had searched for 'arson punishment UK' online. He also told a friend that he had been 'ratted out' by Ms Evans.

Mr King said the defendant initially denied arson and was only 'out for a jog' that night. 

Myles Wilson,defending,said his client had been homeless for a time and had lived in a tent before he bought a car on credit which he should not have done and got into financial difficulties. 

He became desperate for money and 'stupidly' agreed to get involved in the arson plot,although it hadn't been for a large amount.

Mr Wilson added Williams may have autism and ADHD and does not cope with loud,busy places,saying he wears headphones while working as a car valeter and had been 'dreading' the sentencing hearing.

The judge,His Honour Niclas Parry,told Williams: 'The public will understand the inherent dangerousness of setting fire to a car near dwelling houses. Arson is always a very serious offence.'

He called the facts of this case 'frankly staggering'.

'Unbelievably,you took up an offer to blow up or petrol bomb her car for £150' he said,in circumstances which 'almost beggar belief' and would have been 'terrifying' for residents.

Jailing Williams at a time when crowded prison conditions are 'perhaps the most difficult they have been in two decades',the judge also imposed a two-year restraining order prohibiting the defendant from contacting Ms Place or Ms Evans,or going to Brunel Court.

Last week,Anwar,of The Oval,Pentre Maelor,Wrexham,was sentenced to 16 months' imprisonment for the same offence and was handed a similar restraining order.

WalesCrime