A ROW between a boxing club owner and his 'girlfriend' while they holidayed in Tenerife led to it being torched.
Jade Morley had rowed with Sean Wood, owner of Woody's Gym in Ainslie Street, Grimsby, whilst they were on holiday in January – and in anger she texted a friend urging her to "paint" his premises or set it on fire, Grimsby Crown Court heard.
Morley, 33, of Fairmont Road, appeared in court charged with conspiracy to commit criminal damage.
Terri Snook, 31, of Hallcroft, Ulceby, was also charged with conspiracy as well as dangerous driving, while Thomas Allen, 20, of Tennyson House, Grimsby, was charged with arson.
Tom Storey, prosecuting, said: "He (Mr Wood) said he was going to get a flight home. She texted Snook and told her what was going on."
Mr Storey said Morley told Snook she "hated" Mr Wood. Morley told her to "paint" his premises or "set it on fire", the court heard.
"She (Snook) evidently said she would paint it and asked what time the gym would be closed," he added.
Snook contacted Allen, who she was "vaguely related" to, and asked him if he would carry out the damage, the court heard.
Snook picked up Allen and another male and, at about 1.30am on January 29, dropped them off and waited nearby.
A passing police patrol intervened, but the fire had already taken hold.
"One of the men was seen putting something through the letterbox. Police chased them and Allen was seen to run to Snook's vehicle," said Mr Storey.
"Allen jumped in and shouted 'go, go go'."
The court heard an officer tried to stop the car getting away but had to jump for cover when it sped off.
The building was "well alight" when fire crews arrived. Four dry lengths of twisted paper as well as petrol and a bottle of white spirit were found.
Snook was later arrested and told police Allen had "just asked for a lift" and that she didn't know what he was going to do.
Mr Wood, who flew back to assess the damage, estimated it to be around £200.
Simon Hurst, defending Allen, said: "He accepts he played his part. It was not a sophisticated arson attack."
Recorder David Bradshaw said Snook had worked "at the behest" of Morley. Morley pleaded guilty and was given a one-year community order, 200 hours of unpaid work, and ordered to pay £100 costs.
The Recorder told Snook: "It was not your argument to start with but you played a significant part in the sense that you drove your vehicle to and subsequently from the scene."
He handed her a one-year community order, 200 hours of unpaid work and ordered her to pay £100 costs. She was also banned from driving for a year and must take a retest.
Allen, who pleaded guilty to arson, was given 16 months in a Young Offenders' Institution.
The Recorder told him: "In this event the damage to the premises was very small but that might well have been down to the alertness of the police.
"I am convinced that if it had been a fire of any duration the whole building would have gone up."
Speaking after the case, Mr Wood said: "It was a really messy situation. Jade was my best mate and still is.
"We both ranted but unfortunately she ranted to the wrong person.
"Jade has always been a big supporter of the boxing club and hopefully she will be back doing that.
"The club was back up and running inside a few weeks. We're hoping to open a second gym soon.
"I just want to put all of this to bed now and move forward."
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