CARLISLE MAN PAUL GILLAN JAILED FOR ARSON ATTACK
A furious Carlisle man whose ex-partner refused to let him into her home took revenge by dousing her car in petrol and setting it on fire.At the city’s crown court, a judge ruled that 43-year-old Paul Gillan, who has previously served jail terms for serious violence, is so dangerous that he can not be safely managed in the community.
His most recent offending included a terrifying early morning incident when he brandished a petrol can and threatened to set a man on fire.
Gillan was sentenced for a series of offences: arson while being reckless about whether life was endangered; a public order offence, when he threatened to kill and burn his former partner's neighbour.
He admitted those crimes but was also convicted, after a trial, of four police assaults.
Prosecutor Kim Whittlestone outlined the facts.
The public order offence happened in the early hours of August 13 last year when he arrived outside the home of his former partner’s neighbour in Peel Street, Carlisle.
Hearing shouting outside his home, the victim believed there may have been an issue with where he had parked his van and so went outside.
He was confronted by Gillan, who subjected him to a 12-minute tirade of abuse.
The defendant wrongly believed, said Miss Whittlestone, the man had been speaking about him and suggesting he had 'beaten up kids'.
Despite the man pointing this out, Gillan was angry, and he continued yelling at the man, repeatedly threatening to stab him, stamp on him, fight him, and set him on fire.
At one point, Gillan was holding a petrol can and unscrewing the lid.
He also took a lighter from his pocket.
Miss Whittlestone said: 'The defendant said he’d done time before and that he wasn’t concerned about going back to prison.
He began to unscrew the petrol lid.' The incident continued even after police arrived.
As the officers tried to handcuff Gillan, he violently resisted, punching or attempting to punch the four officers who were there to confront him.
The more serious offence, the arson, happened on November 17 last year.
The victim was in a 'turbulent' and 'on-off' relationship with Gillan for six years and, though not with him at the time, she agreed to take him to Longtown for a night out.
They were having a pleasant evening at the Graham Arms but then encountered friends, and one commented that Gillan was 'punching.' He took offence, believing the person was suggesting he was lucky to be with the woman.
'He became angry and defensive,' said Miss Whittlestone.
'He began to turn on her and an argument started.' She decided 'sensibly' to drive home, leaving him at the pub.
Later, Gillan arrived at her home, banging on the door and demanding entry, claiming he had nowhere else to go.
When a police alert for her safety was mistakenly dismissed, he became angry.
Gillan retrieved a petrol can from her shed and set fire to her parked car.
'She was terrified and scared for herself and her daughter, afraid that their lives may be in danger,' stated Miss Whittlestone.
The court noted Gillan's record, which includes four years and eight years jail terms for previous violent offences, with 109 previous crimes.
The judge said, 'It’s clear she lived in fear of you.' Despite a character reference from his mother, who said he cared for her and showed 'genuine remorse,' the court sentenced Gillan to five years in prison, plus a two-year extension on his license, with a ten-year restraining order forbidding contact with victims.
Detective Constable Matthew Owens emphasized the danger Gillan poses, stating: 'Gillan is a dangerous individual who put lives at risk when setting fire to a car in the early hours of a morning.
The consequences could have been serious injury or death, and his aggression towards police officers was notable.
We are pleased that Gillan has been removed from society.'
