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Yates's fire confession deemed fake
THE man charged with burning down Blackpool's iconic Yates's Wine Lodge has walked free from court after the case against him sensationally collapsed.
Prime suspect Aaron Bell was due to stand trial after police said he confessed to starting the 20m Talbot Square blaze.
The 21-year-old North Shore man was said to have been seen acting suspiciously near the scene of the fire which tore through the 141-year-old Yates's building and five other businesses.
However, the case collapsed after new scientific evidence proved Mr Bell could not have been involved in sparking the blaze.
Vivien Mumford, area prosecutor for Preston and Fylde Crown Prosecution Service, said: "On the evidence available at the time, I am satisfied there was sufficient evidence and it was in the public interest to charge Aaron Bell with arson in connection with the fire at Yates Wine Lodge.
"This evidence included an admission by the defendant in a police interview that he had committed the offence.
"The CPS keeps cases under constant review and in the light of further evidence we have received, including forensic and other expert reports, it appears that Aaron Bell, despite his admission could not have been involved in the arson.
"Accordingly we have decided there is no longer sufficient evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction and have therefore offered no evidence against the defendant."
Judge Christopher Cornwall, sitting at Preston Crown Court, directed a verdict of not guilty to be recorded against Mr Bell, from Derby Road.
Police must now go back to square one in their hunt for the firebug who struck in the early hours of Sunday February 15.
Det Insp Frank Walmsley, from Blackpool CID, said the case would now be reviewed.
"We have liased with the CPS and, based on the evidence available, a decision has been made that there is insufficient evidence to support a conviction.
"We are now reviewing the investigation and we still have an open mind as to how the fire started."
Yates's area manager John Creighton said he was "shocked" to hear the news and declined to comment further.
Blackpool Council leader, Coun Peter Callow, said he hoped the police would be able to pick up the trail and catch the right person.
"I always regarded the Yates' building as one of Blackpool's most historic and as an entrance to the town centre," he said.
"The company had just spent a lot of money on refurbishing it and had done a fantastic job.
"For the fire to happen when it did in a prime location with the tourist season approaching, creating an eyesore, was a massive body blow.
"Hopefully the police will now get their man and justice will be done."
The cost of the huge blaze was estimated by 20m by loss insurers with a nearby Subway restaurant, Wildcats nightclub, Blackpool Aquaria and Pet Supplies and the Bosley shopping arcade also gutted.
All the pets – bar one canary – died in the devastated pet shop.
More than 100 firefighters were involved in tackling the blaze which broke out at around 3am.
Despite desperate attempts to save Yates's famous rotunda, health and safety officers ordered it to be demolished.
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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