A MAN from Caernarfon was asked to move on from the Anglesey petrol station where he was busking, before threatening to set it, and himself, on fire.

Steven Johnson was jailed for eight months today (October 25) in his absence, after he refused to leave his custody cell to attend his sentencing hearing.

Johnson, 52, of Maesincla Lane, had 130 previously convictions for 260 offences, and had admitted threatening to destroy property.

Prosecutor Richard Edwards told Caernarfon Crown Court (sitting at Llandudno Magistrates’ Court) that, on the morning of August 8, Johnson was busking on the forecourt of a petrol station in Pentraeth.

The petrol station manager was asked to have a “polite word” with him at about 8.30am, and asked him to move on.

Johnson was initially “friendly” towards her, and starting packing up his belongings, but then ran back into the petrol station shop and shouted: “I’m going to set this place on fire… I’m going to set myself on fire.”  

He then left the shop, and picked up a petrol pump nozzle while holding a lighter in his other hand.

This scared the petrol station manager, who managed to take the pump off him before pushing the defendant away – he was later arrested nearby.

Sentencing, Judge Nicola Jones said: “In my judgement, he is not capable of rehab, as his previous compliance with court orders has been poor.”