Man jailed after setting fire to flat

A man has been jailed after he set fire to his own flat.

Stephen Pritchard, aged 32, prompted an emergency evacuation when he started fires in multiple rooms of the property in Dunblane Road, Ruddington, on the evening of Thursday 12 October.

As his neighbours watched from outside, Pritchard was rescued from his flat on the second floor of the block by firefighters who guided him down a ladder.

No-one was injured and the blaze was soon extinguished.

Pritchard, who immediately admitted what he had done and explained that he had only been trying to harm himself, was arrested at the scene and later pleaded guilty to a charge of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

Appearing at Nottingham Crown Court on Tuesday, he was jailed for two years and four months.

Detective Constable Nathan Wall, of Nottinghamshire Police, said:

“Thanks to the excellent response by Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service Pritchard was unharmed in this incident and major damage to other properties was avoided.

“However, this story could very easily have had a different outcome. I am pleased Pritchard has now been held to account and sincerely hope he uses his time in prison to get the help he needs to change the direction of his life.”