Mansfield man trapped mum in first-floor flat by setting fire to the only exit

William Richardson told police a man in a balaclava set fire to her letterbox when they arrived at Garrett Avenue, just after midnight, on March 31, last year, Nottingham Crown Court heard.

Stefan Fox, prosecuting, said that when his mum shouted from the upstairs window that she was trapped with another woman, officers told her to shut and seal her living room door while waiting for the fire brigade.

The flames had caught an inside curtain and was getting out of control when one officer tried to break a window to gain entry with a fire extinguisher.

Firefighters in breathing apparatus rescued the women using smoke hoods, and Richardson, who lives in the downstairs flat, was arrested.

He denied starting the blaze, but a bottle of white spirit, with his DNA on it, was found on grassland opposite.

Richardson, aged 34, later said it was “only the lowest type of arson” in a recorded phone call he made from prison.

More than £2,700 of damage was caused to the Mansfield Council flat, which was uninhabitable for six months while repairs were made.

Nottingham Crown Court also heard Richardson was arrested with a Stanley knife in his pocket, on October 15, 2021.

And he was charged with assault after hurling his bag at a member of staff on a train, while carrying amphetamine, in February last year.

He has 26 previous convictions for 61 offences, ranging from racially-aggravated threats to grievous bodily harm.

Richardson admitted reckless arson, assault, possession of a blade and class B drugs.

Simon Eckersley, mitigating, said a psychiatric report revealed the continuing impact of his neglect as a child drives him to “seek intoxication to the point of obliteration”.

Richardson wrote a “genuine letter” to the court acknowledging his reliance on his mother and his 'unhealthy' relationship with alcohol.

Jailing him for three years and nine months, Judge John Sampson told him: “It's clear you have had a troubled upbringing and to some extent you are emotionally vulnerable with significant drink and drug problems.”

Detective Constable Stephanie Cook, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This must have been an incredibly scary incident for the victims.

“Richardson spent that evening targeting the address, kicking the door, screaming at the victims inside and kept returning before finally setting fire to the letterbox causing it to spread to a nearby curtain and placing the homeowners in immediate danger.

“Thankfully the fire was quickly contained thanks to the quick actions of the responding officers and our fire service colleagues’ swift response which meant both women were left uninjured.

“Fires can have catastrophic consequences and not only place the victims at risk but also any surrounding houses and people as the blaze spreads – putting other people’s lives in danger.

“Richardson’s offending didn’t stop there though after he was found with dangerous weapons on him.

“There is no defence for carrying a knife and weapon in public, no matter your excuse.

“It’s something we take incredibly seriously as a police force and we will continue to act on any suspicious activity and crack down on those who believe they can arm themselves and get away with carrying dangerous weapons.”