Residents' bravery praised in court for putting out fire after arson attack
Neighbours in a Scunthorpe street were praised for their bravery and quick-thinking in putting out a fire outside a family home, with children and two dogs inside.
Sam Lawson, 38, of Canterbury Close, Scunthorpe admitted arson with intent to endanger life at Melbury Walk, on September 8 last year. Grimsby Crown Court heard nearby residents extinguished the fire when they saw flames leaping up outside the home at around 8.30pm.
Craig Lowe, prosecuting said CCTV showed Lawson riding his bicycle to the scene with a scarf over his head to disguise himself. A Molotov cocktail, with a rag inside a petrol-filled bottle was lit and left at the side of the house of his ex-partner, the prosecutor said.
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The nine-year relationship between the two had ended in 2023 and they had remained amicable, said Mr Lowe. But last year the relationship soured and he threatened his ex-partner that he would petrol bomb the house.
The ex-partner had lent Lawson £10 the previous day after he asked to borrow money. But he went out and bought petrol and made the incendiary device at his home.
The woman said one of the children had smelled smoke and when she looked outside her neighbours were putting out a fire at the side of her home. She rushed to get her children out of the house before the arrival of fire services, said Mr Lowe.
Humberside Police attended and went to Lawson's home where a police officer spotted the washing machine washing clothes. They matched the clothing he had been seen wearing on CCTV cameras.
Reading from her victim impact statement, the woman said she felt scared. "He could have killed me and the children if it was not for the neighbours," the prosecutor read.
She added the incident had "turned her life upside down." Mr Lowe said Lawson had 32 convictions for 70 offences including attempted robbery, burglary and cultivating cannabis.
For Lawson, Ian Durant said his client suffered from a depressive illness which started after a head injury for which he received surgery.
He said the depressive illness, exacerbated by his consumption of cannabis and alcohol, needed addressing.
"It was more luck than judgement that the fire did not take hold. That is due to the quick-thinking of other residents," said Mr Durant. He said his client would never be a danger again to the complainant and her family.
Judge Gurdial Singh said : "Neighbours reacted with impressive speed and without concern for their own safety. It was due to those brave neighbours, the fire was put out."
He said Lawson had deliberately created the firebomb. He jailed him for five years and three months.