Arsonist waved to CCTV before pouring fuel into letterbox and lighting fire

23 February 2024 , 21:12

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Kevin Hughes was armed with a Jerry Can filled with fuel when he approached the house in Garratt Avenue, Mansfield, at around 4am (Image: BPM Media)

An arsonist cheerfully waived at a security camera before he poured fuel through the letterbox of a home where multiple people were sleeping and set it alight.

Sick Kevin Hughes, 40, arrived at the property in Garratt Avenue in Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, carrying a jerry can full of fuel at around 4am on July 6 last year, a court was told.

Hughes spent several minutes leaning against the garden gate of the property, even taking time to give a jaunty wave to a CCTV camera, before walking up the garden path, Nottinghamshire Live reports.

After carefully pouring the fuel through the letterbox onto the doormat, he set the mat alight, while multiple people continued to sleep inside the property, unaware of what was unfolding.

The homeowners woke up a few hours later to discover their front door had been scorched. Hughes, who the residents knew, was arrested the following day, after being identified by the clothes he was wearing, his tattoos, and his walking style

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Hughes, of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty (Supplied)

Following a police investigation supported by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service, he was charged with arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered. Hughes, of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, appeared at Nottingham Crown Court for sentencing on Tuesday, February 20, after pleading guilty.

He was sentenced to two years and six months in prison. Detective Constable Amy Renshaw, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Hughes’ actions in the early hours of that morning were incredibly reckless and put everyone inside that property at significant risk of harm.

“This was an incredibly serious incident that could have quite easily led to catastrophic consequences – not just for the people inside the house but those in neighbouring properties too. Thankfully, the fire didn’t spread far and nobody suffered any injuries, although Hughes would’ve had no way of knowing that was going to be the case when he fled from the scene.

“It really should go without saying, but this kind of disgraceful behaviour has absolutely no place within our society, so we’re pleased to see Hughes has now been put behind bars for his actions.”

Joshua Hartley