A TIMEWASTING fantasist has been jailed for his latest crimes... setting bins on fire.

Mark Wilkinson set the bins alight in central Brighton without regard for anyone else’s safety.

The 48-year-old was previously in court in November over two counts of wasting police time in Crawley.

But he was back before magistrates this week over three incidents on November 29 and 30.

Inspector Glenn Taylor said: “Wilkinson caused multiple fires in busy areas with no regard for the safety and welfare of the local community which is completely unacceptable.”

At Brighton Magistrates' Court Wilkinson was jailed for six months for arson.

The offences were committed just weeks after Crawley Magistrates’ Court imposed a four-month suspended sentence for making false reports to police.

The Argus:

Wilkinson has previously been in trouble for calling the police while drunk and claiming to have planted a bomb in Brighton on behalf of the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) extremist group.

In July last year it was revealed he had called the police in a state of drink and said: “I’m from the Ulster Defence Association, there are various bombs throughout Brighton.

“I’m going to have some fun.”

But he was so intoxicated that when police went to his then home in Oriental Place, Brighton, he could not remember making the phone call.

The Argus:

The alcoholic fantasist claimed someone had spiked his drink.

But he later told officers he was sorry and did not wish to bomb Brighton or cause anyone any harm.

Read more on this defendant:

Lout made false reports to police and left threatening voicemail to Argus reporter

Mark Wilkinson in court over racist abuse at Aldi

'Brighton bomb hoaxer Mark Wilkinson in court

In December last year Wilkinson was jailed for making threats to hurl a brick through the window of the police station in John Street.

Then in May this year he was back in court for racist abuse at Aldi supermarket in London Road.

He was put under a restraining order not to enter the store for two years.

After that incident a man left a slurred and angry voicemail on the phone of The Argus crime reporter Aidan Barlow.

In the message a man said: “My name is (Mr) Wilkinson.

“Mr Barlow you have had it in for me for years going back because I know for a fact that I s****ed your missus.

“You might think you are an up and coming reporter.

“But I’m going to expose you as a swinging party (canister?) person.

“So stop reporting my name, or you are going to get it.”

The Argus:

After the bin fires, DI Taylor said: "Deliberately starting fires is extremely dangerous and it is fortunate that nobody was hurt as a result of these incidents.

"We are pleased the courts have acknowledged the seriousness of these offences by jailing him for six months."