West Wycombe Road arsonist sentenced to more than nine years imprisonment

A man has been sentenced to nine years and three months imprisonment for an arson in High Wycombe.

At Aylesbury Crown Court on Thursday 21st May 2015, a 29 year old man, of West Wycombe Road, High Wycombe pleaded guilty to one count of arson reckless to endanger life and one count of arson with intent to endanger life.

The sentence relates to an incident that occurred at about 10.30pm on Thursday 19th February 2015 when the 29 year old man approached a flat in West Wycombe Road, opened a window and set fire to a set of curtains.

The fire brigade was called to the scene and extinguished the fire.

However, the man then returned to the same address in the early hours of the following day, Friday 20th February 2015 and caused another fire by setting fire to an unknown object with a lighter.

Again, the fire brigade attended the scene and extinguished the fire.

A total of five residents, all men aged between 41 and 62, were evacuated and treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns.

The 29 year old man was arrested at the scene and charged later the same day.

Investigating officer, Det Con Becky Tyler of Force CID based at High Wycombe police station, said: ‘I am delighted that [the man] pleaded guilty to the charges against him and has now been sentenced to a significant period in prison.

[The man] endangered the lives of a number of residents, many of whom had to be evacuated and were treated for smoke inhalation and minor burns. I hope that the sentence given to [the man] serves as justice to them.

I would like to thank all those at Thames Valley Police who have worked on this investigation as well as the Crown Prosecution Service for bringing the case to court.‘