AN IDIOT sparked a devastating moorlands blaze by setting off a firework to impress his girlfriend.

       Viktor Riedly, 28, accidentally torched 705 acres — about 350 football pitches — in an “act of gross and crass recklessness”.

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       An idiot sparked a devastating moorlands blaze by setting off a firework to impress his girlfriend 4

       Viktor Riedly accidentally torched 705 acres

       More than 100 firefighters spent three days tackling the mile-long fire on Marsden Moor, West Yorks.

       The blaze last April caused ￡500,000 of damage and destroyed peatland habitat used by wildlife, including ground-nesting birds.

       Prosecutor Charlotte Rimmer said embers from the firework ignited the site which is of special scientific interest.

       Riedly, of Huddersfield, pleaded guilty to arson and was jailed for a year at Leeds crown court.

       Anastasis Tasou, mitigating, said: “He accepted full responsibility, and he is a man who has exhibited genuine remorse over his actions.

       "He is not a young hooligan. He is otherwise a respectable person. He just didn’t consider that there was a risk in an area devoid of buildings.”

       He said Riedly, who calls himself an artist, had applied to become a National Trust volunteer to help repair the damage.

       But Judge Neil Clark said the offence was too serious to avoid jail, adding: “It was an act of gross and crass recklessness.

       “People have to understand that taking risks with such a vital public amenity cannot be tolerated.”

       West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service area manager Scott Donegan said: “We very much welcome the sentence and hope it reminds others not to start fires on our moorland.”

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       More than 100 firefighters spent three days tackling the mile-long fire 4

       The blaze last April caused ￡500,000 of damage

       Large Fire on Marsden Moor near Saddleworth thought to have been started by a firework in April 2021