An airport worker who set fire to a phone mast because he believed 5G technology was potentially dangerous has been jailed for three years
Michael Whitty, 47, carried out internet searches for theories linking 5G and coronavirus before he set fire to the equipment box of the Vodafone mast in Kirkby, Merseyside, Liverpool Crown Court heard on Monday.
The father-of-three, who pleaded guilty to arson at an earlier hearing, was sentenced over videolink from HMP Altcourse.
Judge Thomas Teague QC said: “In my view there was here a high degree of planning and premeditation."
The judge added: “There was use of firelighters and, in the sense that the aim was to put the mast out of action, there was intent to cause very serious damage to property.”
Simon Christie, prosecuting, said three people had been seen running away from the scene of the blaze on Coopers Lane on April 4, but two had not been traced.
The court heard at the time the arson was one of 13 attacks on phone masts in Merseyside.
When Whitty’s home, on Perimeter Road in Kirkby, was searched later that month officers discovered firelighters, similar to those found at the scene, and analysis of his phone showed he had carried out searches for 5G technology and engaged in discussions on chat groups about it.
Photos and videos of other phone masts around Liverpool were also found on the phone.
Mr Christie said the defendant believed the mast he targeted to be 5G, although it was not clear if there was any evidence to confirm that it was.
He said between £10,000 and £15,000 worth of damage was done to the equipment, which was out of operation for 11 days after the fire.
Andrew Alty, defending, said Whitty had a genuinely held view about the potential dangers linked to 5G masts.
He said: “That view may or may not be correct, time will tell.
“He acknowledges his response was wrong and disproportionate.”
The court heard there were references for Whitty from a parish priest and from Jeane Lowe, chief executive of charity Centre 63, praising volunteer work he did including delivering food parcels.
Mr Alty said Whitty, who runs parking facilities at Liverpool John Lennon Airport, had struggled to come to terms with the death of his nephew in 2014 and the subsequent acquittal of a defendant tried for his murder
