Callous Hackney neighbour set fire to flats forcing family to throw baby out of window

A man has been convicted of arson with intent to endanger life after he deliberately started a fire at his Hackney flat in an anti-Semitic attack. Several people required medical attention following the incident, and a baby had to be checked over by paramedics after being thrown from a window.

Ian Pitkin, 64, of Newick Road, Lower Clapton, was sentenced to life imprisonment at Wood Green Court last Friday (September 6). Met Police officers, London Ambulance Service paramedics and London Fire Brigade attended a fire at Pitkin's ground floor flat at around 12.45pm on March 20 of this year.

The blaze injured five people, including one person who sustained a fractured hip after jumping from a window to escape the fire. The  baby who was thrown into the arms of someone below from the first floor was checked over but did not sustain any injuries.

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Pitkin was arrested shortly after the incident, while receiving medical attention for his own injuries. His car was then located and police found jerry cans filled with petrol, four air weapons, three knives and two hammers.

In his sentencing remarks His Honour Judge Fugallo said of the arson: "This offence was motivated by, and demonstrates hostility towards people of Jewish faith."

Pitkin had previously pled guilty to the crimes of arson with intent to endanger life, four counts of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence and three counts of having an offensive weapon in a public place. He was given a minimum sentence of six years and 17 days after being handed a life sentence.

"Pitkin's actions endangered the lives of his neighbours, who were forced to flee their homes in fear for their lives. Several victims were forced to jump from their windows and a family even had to throw their baby down to waiting relatives below," said Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, policing lead for Hackney and Tower Hamlets.

"The damage to the building speaks for itself and it is remarkable that nobody was more seriously injured. However, the psychological impact was well evidenced through the victim impact statements submitted to court, with victims reporting hearing explosions as the fire took hold in the property below them.

"My officers have worked for many months to investigate the motive for this incident and gather evidence to explain Pitkin's actions. This incident was pre-planned, rather than spontaneous, with Pitkin purchasing jerry cans and petrol in the week prior to the incident, in addition to having previously acquired numerous air pistols and bladed weapons.

"We believe the arson and planned action was linked to a housing dispute and Pitkin indicated a clear intention to harm others, beyond those injured in the fire, who were connected with that housing dispute. In doing so we were able to evidence the fact that he expressed clear anti-Semitic sentiment on several occasions and the Crown Prosecution Service invited the court to treat racial and religious hostility as an aggravating factor."

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