A dangerous arsonist has been handed a five-year prison sentence after embarking on a terrifying fire-setting spree across Staffordshire that put lives and property at risk.
The dangerous fire campaign
Tony Stockdale, 54, of Fenton, pleaded guilty to three counts of arson and one count of arson with intent to endanger life for his actions during April this year. His destructive campaign began on April 23 when he set fire to a wheelie bin at Longton Snooker Club and deliberately poured oil on the flames to intensify the blaze.
The serial arsonist struck again just two days later, targeting a large commercial bin near The Wheatsheaf pub on Church Street in Stoke-on-Trent. The early hours of the following morning saw the fire-setting intensify dramatically, with multiple incidents reported across the area.
Multiple locations targeted
Fire investigators discovered a second bin ablaze near Tesco Express on Hartshill Road, which had caused damage to a nearby fence. Later that same morning, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service responded to a fire in an alleyway on Boothen Road, followed by another wheelie bin fire on Cranmer Street.
The pattern continued with a public bin set alight around the corner, and four additional bins were deliberately ignited on Gerrard Street that same day. The coordinated nature of the attacks suggested a determined campaign of fire-setting that required significant emergency service resources.
Justice served at crown court
Stockdale was identified through extensive CCTV evidence gathered by police and was arrested shortly after the incidents. During police interviews, he consistently answered "no comment" to questions about his involvement.
However, the evidence against him proved overwhelming, and he eventually pleaded guilty to all charges. On Wednesday, November 12, Stockdale was sentenced at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court to five years and four months in prison for the arson with intent to endanger life charge, with concurrent sentences for the remaining arson offences.
The court also imposed an extended licence period of two years and eight months, meaning Stockdale will remain under supervision long after his release from custody.
Emergency services respond
Sergeant Colin Hitchins, who worked on the case, stated: "Stockdale carried out a substantial and targeted series of arson activities that put himself and the wider public at risk. I am pleased he admitted his offending and that the judge saw fit to sentence him to a considerable jail term."
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Michelle Hickmott of Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service added her concerns about the impact of such deliberate fire-setting: "Our crews were called to multiple reports of intentionally-set fires that not only put people and property at risk, but also wasted our firefighters' time that could be better spent in dealing with emergencies and supporting our communities."
Both police and fire services expressed satisfaction with the sentence, hoping it would reassure the public that those who endanger community safety through deliberate fire-setting will face serious consequences.
