A man who burgled a Lakes hotel to steal wine and champagne, and later set fire to scaffolding erected for a Kendal music festival, has been jailed.
Jeffrey Hayton, 58, was challenged by staff after straying behind a bar at the Old England Hotel, Bowness-on-Windermere, at around 11pm on July 30 last year.
Hayton was seen drunk and dishevelled, Carlisle Crown Court heard today, and had bottles of rose wine and fix under his arm. He initially claimed to be an undercover manager checking on their behaviour and performance.
When told by night porters that police were being called, Hayton began taking photographs and videos.
“He at one point claimed to be a millionaire and threw a £20 note at them,” said Tim Evans, prosecuting.
Hayton was unco-operative with police who arrested and later bailed him.
But while on bail, he got into more hot water. On October 13 he entered a Kendal pub. He bought wine and drank it in public — both acts being in breach of a five-year criminal behaviour order he’d previously been handed in a bid to keep him out of trouble.
Early the following morning, police learned a fire had been lit on some wooden temporary scaffolding at the town’s Finkle Street. This had been erected for a music festival organised by Kendal businesses.
A dog walker spotted flames and saw Hayton — who he knew by the nickname of Mad Jeff — was trying to fuel the fire with liquid and paper, causing damage to the boards. That was captured on film by a friend of the witness.
When brought to court, Hayton admitted burglary and arson. He also pleaded guilty to breaching the order — on October 13 and the night of December 15 when he’d entered another Kendal pub while drunk before causing damage to a police cell during disgusting conduct when arrested.
Hayton’s excess alcohol consumption was said to been a contributory factor to a criminal record featuring more than 100 offences. These included two other arson offences — one at a Kendal church — violence, including wounding, and numerous court order breaches.
During a sentencing hearing today, Judge Nicholas Barker heard a marriage breakdown and job loss had led to an alcohol addiction and mental health problems from his 20s. He recognised he needed to engage with professional help.
But Judge Barker — who imposed a 12-month prison sentence — branded Hayton, of Copperfield Lane, Kendal, a well-known nuisance and noted he’d been offered help in the past to rehabilitate.
“Your behaviour is intolerable,” said the judge. “It causes significant inconvenience, nuisance, disturbance to those who wish to go about their daily lives, their daily business.”
