Charges dropped in Cross Hills Speedy Hire blast case (From Craven Herald)

Charges dropped in Cross Hills Speedy Hire blast case

10:50am Thursday 9th February 2012 in Local news

Three men accused of arson following an explosion at an industrial unit in Cross Hills have had the charges dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

The trio had been due to stand trial later this month after a fire in March last year at the Speedy Hire Centre in Skipton Road, which led to road closures and trains being stopped.

But, on Friday, prosecutor Howard Shaw told Judge Peter Benson, sitting at Bradford Crown Court, that since the case was last in court in December the Crown had considered its position and the strength of the evidence in quite some detail.

Mr Shaw said a conclusion had been reached that there was no realistic prospect of a conviction against the three defendants.

During Friday’s brief hearing, 45-year-old Mark Kelly, of Airedale Mews, Silsden, Shaun Bishop, 30, of Leeds Road, Ilkley, and Wayne Asquith, 45, of North Dean Road, Keighley, all entered not guilty pleas to the charge of arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

The prosecution formally offered no further evidence against them and Judge Benson ordered not guilty verdicts against each of the men.

“You are all free to go gentlemen, that’s the end of the matter,” the judge told them.

The judge also ordered each man should receive £60 in travel costs.

Witnesses described seeing flames shooting from the building at the Enterprise Centre, off Skipton Road, and hearing an explosion that shook nearby houses and sent debris into the air, some hitting a passing train.

As a precaution, roads were closed and trains were stopped on the line between Cononley and Steeton.

Substantial damage was also caused to the Speedy Hire premises.