(Image: West Yorkshire Police)
A MAN has been jailed for setting a police van on fire during a demonstration in Leeds city centre.
Hakam Ghaith, 29, of no fixed abode, was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court on Friday, August 21, after pleading guilty to arson with recklessness to whether life was endangered.
He was handed a sentence of ten years and eight months in prison.
The incident took place on Calverley Street in Leeds on November 1, 2025.
PC Charlotte Sampson, of Leeds CID, said: "Ghaith’s actions that day put himself and others in danger with him using accelerant to set a police vehicle on fire.
"He did not know if there was anyone in the vehicle at the time and given how busy the area was, there was also potential for others in the vicinity to be hurt.
"Thankfully, no one was injured but the damage caused to the vehicle took a vital resource out of service, impacting on our ability to be able to respond to incidents and protect the public."