An arsonist stole his neighbour’s car before setting it alight after a Platinum Jubilee street party.

Shane Allen, 32, stole the car which had been parked on Back Mellor Grove, Bolton on June 4 this year after his neighbours had been celebrating the 70th anniversary of the now late Queen Elizabeth II’s reign.

Bolton Crown Court heard how the owner of the car had spotted Allen from her front garden and woke up the next morning to find both her car keys and the car itself gone.

William Staunton, prosecuting, said: “As I understand it, the vehicle was simply found burnt out on the public highway.”

He added: “It would appear that this was the victim’s sole vehicle, therefore this would have impacted upon her as it was the destruction of her primary means of transport.”

Mr Staunton told the court how Allen, of Gooch Street, appeared to have driven off on the red Nissan Juke, before setting it on fire and abandoning it.

He estimated that this caused around £5,500 worth of damage but admitted this was not a precise amount.

Allan sent a Facebook message to the owner saying that he had stolen the car, but did not at that time admit to having set it alight.

But he was arrested soon afterwards and confessed to theft and arson at a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Mr Staunton told the court that Allen has previous convictions for criminal damage and for drug offences but he does not have any previous convictions for arson.

Daniel Lister, defending, argued that Allen deserved credit for having pleaded guilty and told the court that he had not been represented by a barrister at the time he did so.

He said: “I think he’s been somewhat candid with the court by entering his plea while not represented by counsel.”

Mr Lister claimed that Allen had displayed real remorse for his actions and acknowledged that stealing the car and setting it on fire was a ‘stupid, stupid mistake.’

He explained that since his arrest Allen, who appeared via video link from prison, had been doing building courses and wanted to stay out of trouble once he was released.

Mr Lister said: “He is a man with another side to him, he is a man capable of living a law-abiding life.”

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The Honorary Recorder for Bolton Judge Martin Walsh accepted that Allen deserved credit for his guilty plea but pointed out that his actions could have had deadly consequences.

He said: “Clearly this was a vehicle that was in use by his neighbour, but which was taken from her and destroyed.

Judge Walsh sentenced Allen to 21 months in prison.