Client Set Fire to Unit with Man Inside - Avoids Prison

Case study summary

Our client was a photographer in his spare time. Whilst experimenting with long exposure photography, he accidentally set fire to a unit with a man and his dogs inside. We persuaded the prosecution to drop the charge of arson with intent to endanger life and he avoided prison.

Case study

Our client was a 39-year-old engineer who enjoyed being a recreational photographer in his spare time. He became aware of a popular type of photography called long exposure photography which involves lighting steel wool inside of a metal whisk and spinning it in front of the camera. This type of photography had a dedicated Instagram page called UK Spinners where our client communicated with other fellow photographers.

Through Instagram, our client arranged to meet with two other photographers to create long exposure shots. Pioneer Mills in Manchester was chosen as the location, and they met on 31st January 2022. After taking many shots and experimenting with different angles and lighting, the three photographers decided to head home.

As they were driving home, they noticed smoke coming from Pioneer Mills. Our client ensured that one of the other males were on the phone to the fire service before he continued to drive home to his pregnant wife and their young child.

Two weeks later, our client was interviewed by the police. It had transpired that sparks from the steel wool had landed onto a recycling unit and caught fire. The fire spread to a unit where a man and his dogs were inside. He was subsequently charged with arson and arson with intent to endanger life - a charge which would have resulted in a prison sentence if he was found guilty.

Our client contacted us and asked that we represent him at court. We reviewed the case and were of the opinion that the decision to charge him with arson with intent to endanger life was unjust. He had no intention to cause damage, harm or to endanger life. Furthermore, he was an individual who had never been in trouble with the police before and he had just begun a family with his fiancé.

We highlighted this to the prosecution and persuaded them to drop the charge of arson with intent to endanger life. Our client received a community sentence for simple arson. He was relieved to have avoided prison and be able to continue to support his partner through her pregnancy and the welcoming of their newborn child.