Blackpool arsonist set blazes in work colleague's home after claiming his glasses had been stolen

A convicted arsonist who set three fires in his work supervisor's home has been jailed for four years.
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Declan Hutchfield, 20, of Foxhall Road, Blackpool, already had previous convictions involving setting fires or making threats to burn properties, when he torched clothing, a wardrobe and a mattress in the property.

His victim, who suffered a minor burn to her arm, "couldn't understand why he had done what he had done", Preston Crown Court heard, because there had been no argument that evening.

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Prosecuting, Simon Blakeborough described how his victim and two friends had gone back to her mid terraced home on St Helier's Road in the resort in the early hours of July 5 last year.

Crown CourtCrown Court
Crown Court

Hutchfield, who told police he had consumed a cocktail of cider, gin and shots, rang one of them to ask if he could join them.

He said: "He had already drunk a significant amount of alcohol prior to his arrival.

"He is described as becoming increasingly drunk and rolling around on the kitchen floor with his words becoming increasingly incomprehensible

"He was told to go and sleep it off."

Declan HutchfieldDeclan Hutchfield
Declan Hutchfield
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The court heard Hutchfield said he wasn't leaving but they then heard the back door slam shut.

They believed he had left, and as she passed a room she could smell burning.

He added: "She saw a fire started on the bedroom floor. She was understandably shocked and horrified and tried to stamp the fire out before running to the kitchen to alert the other occupants.

"They grabbed a towel and tried to put out the fire. Her friend tried to put out a fire on the mattress."

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Earlier in the evening Hutchfield contacted a friend and told him he was going to set a fire and set the bed alight because the people in the house had "stolen his glasses".

After setting the blaze he rang his friend again saying he had set a fire, but he didn't believe him.

The court heard the victim's friend managed to find Hutchfield and challenge him about the fire at around 4.50am.

He ran into the road and cars were forced to stop.

He then smashed a vodka bottle on a vehicle, triggering a confrontation, and had to be treated for a facial injury at 5.15am.

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Defending, Fraser Livesey described a difficult background and said Hutchfield had thrived on the routine of having a job, but resorted to substance abuse when he lost it.

He said the offence happened immediately after lockdown was lifted and he went drinking with friends.

Judge Richard Gioserano said: "There was clearly a risk of serious physical harm.

"Having set the fires you simply left the house, giving no warning to the other three still in there.

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"They managed fortunately to put it out, although she was burnt in the process."

He said the incident was aggravated by his previous "clear pattern of committing or threatening to commit arson" and the fact he had failed to respond to previous court orders.

"This fire was set intentionally, not just recklessly."

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