A NEWPORT man caused almost £500,000 worth of damage in an arson attack, while on bail for burgling the same store.

David Taylor was awaiting sentence for burgling Leather Leaders at Maesglas Retail Estate East when he burgled the premises again and set it alight.

Taylor, 32, of Kings Street, appeared in Cardiff Crown Court for sentencing yesterday having previously admitted five counts of burglary and one of arson.

Prosecutor Hywel Hughes said Taylor first burgled the store on June 7, 2010 stealing £250 cash from a safe. He was later arrested and appeared in magistrates court on December 31 last year where he was committed to crown court for sentence and bailed.

On January 4 this year, a major fire was reported at Leather Leaders, causing around £491,000 worth of damage to the building and its stock and £2,036 was stolen from a safe.

The court heard Taylor burgled Dance World on Lower Dock Street on January 20, and The Bank pub in Maindee and the Golden Heart, Cardiff Road, with an accomplice on January 25 and 26.

Taylor was arrested after being identifed from CCTV footage from the Golden Heart and police later linked his DNA to that found on a glove at the Leather Leaders.

The court heard Taylor has previous convictions for arson, wounding, burglary and theft.

Taylor's counsel Hillary Roberts said Taylor understood the gravity of what he has done and that his life has been affected by the use of drink and drugs.

Judge Patrick Curran QC said a number of non-custodial sentences had not stopped him from committing more and more serious burglaries. He said Taylor committed the arson presumably in a bid to cover his tracks.

Judge Curran said: “You have now reached the stage of becoming quite a sophisticated burglar capable of causing great damage."

Taylor was sentenced to six years and two months in prison.