5 days ago
Man jailed over terrifying Clydebank fireworks van attack
The "terrifying" explosions in the early hours of a Sunday in February forced neighbours to evacuate in dramatic footage.
Connor Steele wilfully set the fire - then shouted his address.
His solicitor said his client didn't know about the large number of fireworks inside.
The children of a 29-year-old and another man had been involved in an "ongoing feud" and fighting in Clydebank.
Around 12.38am on Sunday, February 23, Steele left his home in Onslow Road and walked south to a property in Braes Avenue, Whitecrook.
At 12.55am he started a verbal argument with the other man, whose van was parked in the driveway next to the property.
Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard it was a derelict Ford Transit van with no engine.
Steele then approached the van, threw an unknown accelerant onto the passenger seat, and ran off.
He yelled: "I live at Onslow Road!"
Neighbours saw the blaze and called the fire service and police.
The van had a large amount of fireworks inside that started to go off. Video from that night shows the loud explosions shooting out from the site. The van was "completely engulfed in flames".
A majority of neighbours were evacuated because of safety concerns, the court heard.
Despite Steele announcing where he lived, police were unable to trace him initially and there was an eventual appeal for witnesses.
Fireworks were captured exploding from van. (Image: Clydebank East Community Council) (Image: Clydebank East Community Council)
On February 25, around 3.30pm, officers forced entry and found him hiding under the covers of a bed.
Steele, sitting in the dock, interrupted fiscal Euan Nicholson and said: "I wasn't hiding."
When police arrested him, he became aggressive, shouting and swearing, making remarks including "you're both little p**fs", "bunch of gay boys" and "f**gots".
Appearing from custody on August 5, he pleaded guilty to wilfully setting the fire while on bail, and to his behaviour towards police, aggravated by prejudice relating to sexual orientation.
After his arrest, Steele was put on a curfew, which he broke twice.
Defence solicitor Luke O'Curry said the two disputing men were "somewhat birds of a feather".
"[Steele] didn't know he was illegally storing fireworks in the back [of the van]," he said. "He has not meted personal violence [on the man].
"He has sought to establish his standing in the argument."
Mr O'Curry said his client kept himself to himself in Greenock Prison at the moment as the feud is continuing there.
Steele had been making progress on a previous community payback order.
Sheriff John McElroy KC said: "He has taken himself right back into difficulty by virtue of February 23."
Mr O'Curry said: "It's not a matter of personal violence or behind the back of the householder or when the householder was sleeping. It was done in front of him.
"The two of them were arguing when he walked to the derelict vehicle and threw accelerant and gave his address."
Sheriff McElroy jailed him for 23 months.
He said: "It's very unfortunate you found yourself in this situation because you had been making significant progress.
"I'm hoping when you finish this sentence, you put these things behind you and there's progress to be made in the future."
At the time of the attack, a Clydebank East Community Council spokesperson, described the scene as "terrifying".
She said: "Disgusting behaviour in Braes Avenue, Whitecrook in the early hours.
"A van was deliberately set on fire while containing boxes of fireworks with absolutely no regard for the kids living in these houses.
"I've never witnessed anything like it kids screaming in sheer terror absolutely awful.
"Thankfully everyone is safe."
