Man jailed for starting fires across Norwich
Daniel Askew, aged 35 admitted to two counts of Arson.
A man has been jailed for starting fires in Norwich.
On 23 March 2024 Daniel Askew, aged 35, of Norwich Road, was seen in Malthouse Road, behind St Stephen’s Street, at 3.47am where he set a fire which he allowed to burn for several minutes.
He then returned at 7.50am to the same location and set a further fire which he again allowed to burn before walking off.
When he returned for a third time later in the day he was spotted by security and arrested by police a short time later.
He was charged with two counts of arson, which he admitted.
On Tuesday 23 April 2024 he appeared before Norwich Magistrates’ Court where he was sentenced to 26 weeks in prison for each offence, to run concurrently.
While on remand he engaged with Operation Converter and asked for a third offence to be taken into consideration at sentencing.
This involved setting fire to a towel within the shower area at a hotel in Riverside Road, Norwich, on 17 March 2024.
Askew was also asked to pay a victim surcharge of £154.
Duncan Etchells, staff supervisor for Op Converter which encourages defendants to admit to further crimes, said: “These are reckless acts which could have had very different consequences.
“While in prison Daniel Askew will be offered programmes aimed at addressing his interest in setting fires, hopefully with a view to ending his interest in this which will help to prevent his offending escalating.”