Hunt for suspected wheelie bin arsonist who allegedly set fire to Coventry home - and keeps striking - The Coventry Observer

Hunt for suspected wheelie bin arsonist who allegedly set fire to Coventry home - and keeps striking

Coventry Editorial 26th Jun, 2020   0

POLICE have issued images of a man they want to speak with in connection with a series of bin fires in Coventry, including one yesterday (June 25) that saw a house go up in flames.

Fire crew were called to the property in Lavender Avenue, Coundon at around 4.45am after a wheelie bin fire spread to an adjacent house.

Fortunately no-one was in at the time but the blaze still caused damage estimated at several thousand pounds, police say.

It’s the latest in a series of similar arsons in the Coundon area in recent days.




West Midlands Police said: “We’ve launched an urgent investigation and warned that anyone caught deliberately setting fire to property faces jail for endangering life.”

Coventry Police Chief Inspector Paul Minor, said: “These are truly senseless acts and ones that can have tragic consequences.


“Only last year we saw a man die when his mobility scooter was set alight in Jenner Street; the flames spread to his home and he was unable to escape in time.

“The offender has now admitted manslaughter and faces many years in prison.

“If anyone recognises the person caught on camera I would urge them to contact us straight away.”

Wheelie bin fires had already been reported in the early hours of Tuesday morning, including ones in Lavender Avenue, Redesdale Avenue and Banks Road which resulted in a car catching fire.

And a tree was also set alight in Browett Road on the same morning.

Anyone with information is asked to message us via Live Chat on our website or to call 101 quoting log number 1873 from 25 June.

Alternatively contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

Announcements

Weddings, Birthdays, Bereavements, Thank you notices, Marriages and more.

Online Editions

Catch up on your local news by reading our e-editions on the Coventry Observer.

Buy Photos

Buy photos online from the Coventry Observer newspaper.

Subscribe

Receive a weekly update to your inbox by signing up to our weekly newsletter.