AN arsonist who caused £45,000 worth of damage to train carriages at the Dean Forest Railway more than a year ago is to be sentenced at Gloucester Crown Count next month.

Paul Irving, 26, of Steel Avenue, Lydney, indicated last November that he would he pleading guilty to damaging the carriages by fire, either intending to destroy or damage them or being reckless whether they would be destroyed or damaged, on March 24 2022.

But the case has been delayed since then because a second person was later also charged in connection with the incident and pleaded not guilty. The court ordered that Irving’s case had to wait until after the other defendant’s trial was held – but since then the prosecution has decided not to proceed against that person.

Sitting in Cirencester the judge, Recorder Richard Mawhinney, fixed a date of May 18 for Irving to be sentenced. He said “The defendant was committed for sentence on a charge of arson.  His co-defendant indicated a not guilty plea. An indictment was prepared but in the event the prosecution did not proceed with that.

“That leaves the defendant Irving to be dealt with on his committal for sentence. 

The court has been in touch with his lawyer Mr Donnelly  and May 18  is convenient for him so Mr Irving will be sentenced on that date.”