Man smashed glass to get into Mansfield McDonald's - then set fire to his flat

A man smashed a glass window to break into a Mansfield McDonald's and left with a full bag of food - before setting fire to his own flat days later. Nottinghamshire Police says the fire started by 24-year-old Scott Goulding, of Shireoaks Court in Mansfield, could have had "catastrophic consequences" and that one woman had to jump out of a window to safety.

Residents in his block of flats had to evacuate the building, with the blaze having been started when a Christmas tree, mattress and two tables stacked in the corner of Goulding's flat were set alight. Goulding has now been jailed for three years and four months after a Nottingham Crown Court appearance on Friday (April 19), having earlier pleaded guilty to burglary and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

Goulding's offending began at 1.20am on January 4, 2024, when he was captured on CCTV breaking into a McDonald's on Oakleaf Close. Goulding is seen on the CCTV footage smashing the window with his bare hands and climbing in, later returning with a full bag of food.

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McDonald's staff discovered the break-in the following morning when they found the broken window. Emergency services were then called to Shireoaks Court two days later after residents reported a flat in a block of four apartments being on fire at around 5.30am.

People had to flee from the properties and Goulding was eventually found lying on the floor outside the block of flats and was passing in and out of consciousness. Other residents reported Goulding had moments earlier apologised to them and admitted setting fire to the flat.

Police investigations revealed that Goulding had returned to Shireoaks Court in the early hours of the morning and was heard throwing items around his flat. Detective Constable Kate Hardy, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: "Arson is always an extremely serious and reckless offence - but to set fire to a flat in a residential area shows a blatant disregard for the life of other people living in that block of flats and the wider neighbourhood.

"If the flames hadn't been brought under control so quickly, this fire could have had catastrophic consequences. It is only through good fortune that no one was seriously injured or worse.

"We also take break-ins on businesses very seriously because of the impact they can have on staff. It is an unpleasant experience to come into work and discover the premises have been broken into overnight."

Jim Dykes, a station manager with Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue, said: "At this incident, four fire engines attended, using breathing apparatus, thermal imaging cameras, high pressure hose reels, and forcible entry tools to enter the property and extinguish a significant fire that impacted all of the other flats and residents within the building.

"Not only does deliberate fire setting put members of the public, firefighters and other emergency responders lives at risk, it wastes emergency service time, and takes us away from other emergencies. This fire could have been significantly worse, and we’re pleased that Mr Goulding has seen the consequence of his actions."