Woman jailed after arson attack at Swansea City McDonald’s

A woman from Swansea has been jailed after setting a fire inside the city centre’s McDonald’s restaurant.

39-year-old Leah Hocking, of no fixed abode, entered the fast-food restaurant at Castle Square on March 4, before proceeding to light a fire on a table.

She also stole a mobile phone from another diner at the eatery during the same visit. During her arrest, Hocking then aimed multiple kicks at a police officer.

On July 28 she pleaded guilty to arson, theft and assault by beating of an emergency worker. She also pleaded guilty to criminal damage under £5,000 after admitting to damaging the door of a city centre coffee shop on the same day.

Hocking was last week sentenced to six months in prison.

PC Abbi Crocker said:

“Leah Hocking’s behaviour was mindless and she did not care whether she caused harm to herself or to others.

“That kind of irresponsible and anti-social behaviour is not at all welcome on the streets of Swansea.

“People like her make good, law-abiding people fearful of coming to the city centre out of worry for being targeted for no apparent reason. She deserves her spell in prison.”