A man who deliberately started three fires in the shared house where he lived has been jailed for 20 months.
Scared residents had to flee their home after a pair of curtains was deliberately set alight in a communal living room, in a man’s bedroom and in a cupboard on a landing.
One man was asleep when the smoke alarm woke him up. He noticed the curtains were smoking having been set alight and discovered more thick smoke and flames coming from the floor above the property in Comyn Gardens in St Ann’s.
The panicked victim managed to escape his home and reported the fire to the emergency services on the morning of 5 February 2021.
Witnesses reportedly saw a man in distress outside in the streets who said he thought residents were still inside trapped.
Officers conducted CCTV enquiries from neighbouring properties which showed a man leaving the flats and standing on the side of the street staring back at the attacked premises.
He returned before leaving again – fleeing to Sheffield – before he was arrested the same evening in South Yorkshire.
Thomas Bailey, 28, of Comyn Gardens in St Ann’s, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether the life of another would be endangered and was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (9 July 2021).
Detective Constable Michelle Whitham of Nottinghamshire Police led the investigation.
She said: “This must have been a terrifying ordeal with one resident fleeing for safety after discovering their home alight after the alarm had gone off. They quickly evacuated their accommodation but it is incredibly lucky no one was physically harmed.
“Following a full investigation we are pleased a man has now been jailed following the incident. The fire was deemed to be suspicious as there was more than one ignition within the address.
“Bailey showed little regard for the safety of others by deliberately starting these fires which could easily have spread to neighbouring properties and put lives in danger.”I hope that the sentence brings them some comfort and reassurance.
“This investigation was a joint effort and I would like to thank Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service for their support and for helping us to bring Bailey to justice.”
