Arsonist risked lives of neighbours with house fire

An arsonist who could have endangered the lives of elderly neighbours when he set fire to his mother's house has been jailed for two years and eight months.

Alfie Mavin, 26, jumped out of a bedroom window to escape the blaze he started at a semi-detached house in Durham in February, Teesside Crown Court heard.

Believe Housing, which owns the property, said the fire did more than £40,000 worth of damage and had cost £25,000 in insurance excess.

Mavin, who had 38 offences on his criminal record, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Mavin started two blazes at the house shortly after 19:30 GMT on 9 February after his mother left following a row, prosecutor Jon Harley said.

The first blocked the stairs and the second was in the master bedroom, with Mavin jumping from a first-floor window on to a lawn to escape the flames and thick black smoke, the court heard.

A member of the public raised the alarm with firefighters quickly attending, the court heard.

Mavin had burns to his arms and legs, his face was covered with soot and he was suffering from smoke inhalation, Harley said.

He admitted starting the fire and being reckless as to "endangering the lives of an elderly couple" who lived next door, the prosecutor said.

In mitigation, Jennifer Coxon said Mavin had suffered a traumatic childhood which led to alcohol and drug abuse when stressed.

A psychiatrist said treatment was available to help him, the court heard.

Mavin was "lucky" not to more seriously harm himself or others, Coxon said.

Judge Peter Armstrong said the damage to the house was "substantial".

"The real danger of course is this is a semi-detached house and if the fire had spread, it could have endangered the lives of the couple next door."

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