Arsonist Sentenced For Boxing Day Blaze

A man who used a cigarette to start a fire which put people’s lives at risk and led to the evacuation of a premises in Wisbech has been locked up for three years.

Callum Lilliot, 20, dropped a cigarette on his coat which he then threw on his bed at his care accommodation in Awdry Drive, at about 10pm on Boxing Day last year.

Police officers had initially been called to the property when Lilliot threatened to jump out of a second-floor window but arrived to find smoke coming from an open window. 

Fearing there were people inside, an officer began to kick the door down before a carer opened it with a key.

The officers tried to tackle the fire but were beaten back by the smoke and heat, which lead to two of them being taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation.

Four residents and carers were evacuated, with Lilliot arrested a short time later despite claiming the fire had been an accident.

Temporary accommodation had to be found for other residents.

In a further incident on December 29, Lilliot rang 999 and said he wanted to hurt staff at the Edith Cavell Centre, in Peterborough, by burning it down.

Lilliot pleaded guilty at Cambridge Crown Court  to two counts of arson with intent to endanger life, arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered and threatening to damage/destroy property.

He was sentenced to three years’ detention in a young offenders institution.

Detective Sergeant Lee Womak, who investigated, said: “Lilliot showed little regard for the safety of others when he decided to deliberately drop his cigarette on his coat and start a fire.

“I don’t need to explain why starting fires is so dangerous and I hope Lilliot will reflect on his actions and consider how tragic the consequences could have been.”