Harley Wayne Bridgett pleaded guilty to arson, wilful damage

After stealing a vehicle from a police impound yard and setting it on fire, one man didn’t count on CCTV capturing his every move. Watch the video:

It didn’t take police long to catch up with a man who broke into their impound yard, stole a vehicle and set it on fire after CCTV footage caught him carrying out both acts.

Harley Wayne Bridgett, 28, pleaded guilty to wilful damage, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and arson when he faced Hervey Bay District Court last week.

According to court documents Bridgett, along with a co-accused, broke into the police impound yard in Pialba on April 20.

First the two tried to cut through the fence with bolt cutters, the documents read.

When that failed, they used the black Honda SUV they were driving to reverse through the gate. causing it to break from its hinges and crash to the ground.

The two then entered the yard, with the co-accused getting into the driver’s seat of a blue ute and Bridgett getting into the passenger’s seat.

Harley Wayne Bridgett, 28, pleaded guilty to wilful damage, unlawful use of a motor vehicle and arson when he faced Hervey Bay District Court last week.

The two then left the yard, but their actions were recorded on CCTV, the documents read.

The two then drove a short distance to Bay City Marine.

Bridgett opened the door of the ute and was seen on CCTV to place something on the dashboard.

The ute was then engulfed in fire.

According to the court documents, a bystander witnessed the fire and ran to the ute to close the door.

The vehicle was a write off, the documents read.

The next day, Bridgett was arrested by police, but declined to take part in an interview regarding the incident.

His co-accused was arrested a few days later.

Last Wednesday, Bridgett was given a head sentence of three years in prison, to be suspended after six months with an operational period of three years.

Convictions were recorded.