Exclusive by Paul Hooper

A judge has ordered an investigation into the botched prosecution of four men accused of plotting to burn down a Ramsgate supermarket.

Conspiracy to cause arson charges against two men were dropped after Crown Prosecution Service lawyers offered no evidence against them.

But a father and son were later jailed for their part in the failed attack on AMCO in Queen Street.

Judge Michael O’Sullivan later lambasted the prosecution at Canterbury Crown Court for “shambolic” and “unacceptable” behaviour in handling the case.

He told the CPS: “I have considerable disquiet about the prosecution and the failure to abide by the orders of the court and the failure in relation to disclosure (of evidence). I require a full explanation within two weeks.”

The court had heard how William Cairns, 58, and his 24-year-old son Ashley had been nabbed on their way to the store carrying cans of petrol in January last year.

William and Ashley Cairns have been jailed for plotting to burn down a supermarket

The plan was to pour the fuel through a drainpipe place near a broken window – and then torch the building.

The court had heard how the petrol had been left in a red van, which had been parked in the AMCO store car park.

William, of Eaton Road, Margate, and Ashley, of Lewis Crescent, Cliftonville, were both caught on CCTV cameras wearing “dark clothing with the hoods up”.

The father and son team were seen to go to the van where 45 minutes earlier two men – who cannot be named for legal reasons – were seen unlocking the vehicle before “withdrawing to a nearby address”, the court heard.

The judge said: “This was in my judgement a pre-planned operation. After picking up the five-litre cans they went to the rear of the premises where a back window had already been smashed. There was little glass on the inside but glass on the outside.

“It is clear that both of you were recruited to set fire to the premises. No doubt there would have been a subsequent claim by others on the insurance.

The case was heard at Canterbury Crown Court

“How much you were to be paid has never been disclosed – but the petrol you had had the capability of causing a severe fire.

“I accept that you were not the prime movers in this criminal enterprise.”

After the CPS offered no evidence against two men accused of being conspirators, they were freed.

Then new charges of attempted arson were added against the Cairns - Ashley pleaded guilty and his father was later convicted by a jury.

The judge told Ashley: “I take the view that the unacceptable conducted by the prosecution against you and the shambolic state of the case was such that you were justified in pleading not guilty up until the amended indictment. You will get full credit for that plea of guilty.

“I accept that you must both feel a sense of injustice over the verdicts of not guilty against two others and I shall not forget that.

“Your role in this criminal enterprise was to start a fire at the premises in order to achieve a pay out by the insurance company. You were both motivated to make money.”

William was jailed for four years and his son for two years and eight months.