Man sentenced for setting fireplace to his flat in Oswestry

A person has been sentenced to two-years in jail after setting fireplace to his Oswestry flat.

John Rowlands, of Matthew Henry Court docket in Whitchurch, was sentenced on Friday 7 February after he beforehand pled responsible to arson in October 2024.

The 47-year-old began the fireplace within the bed room of his floor ground flat on Unicorn Street in Oswestry in on March 3, 2022.

The fireplace service responded and have been capable of get the fireplace below management, which means it didn’t unfold to different residencies within the constructing.

Rowlands was rapidly arrested on the scene and later charged with arson. He was given a two yr and two month custodial sentence at Shrewsbury Crown Court docket.

Detective Constable Geoff Anslow, of Shropshire’s Reactive CID, stated: “Rowlands’ actions have been reckless, harmful and admittedly idiotic. He intentionally began a hearth inside a ground-floor house after which walked away, displaying completely no regard for the security of different members of the general public.

“Rowlands is now a convicted arsonist and can spend a interval in custody.

“I wish to thank our colleagues at Shropshire Fireplace & Rescue Service for his or her swift response on the night time in query, and in addition the residents of Unicorn Street for his or her help and help throughout what was a posh investigation.”