Victims of serial arsonist in Peterborough unhappy at ‘light’ sentence

Victims say they intend to appeal the sentence given to Shane Clarke, 33, of Vere Road, Peterborough after he admitted three counts of arson last month (December 23) and was sentenced to six months imprisonment, suspended for two years.

He was also handed a 40-day Rehabilitation Activity Requirement.

The offences all took place in June.

Officers were alerted to the first of the blazes at about 4am on June 2 in Central Avenue, where residents reported a bin on fire.

The following day in the early hours of the morning, Clarke lit a letter, addressed to himself, and attempted to post it through a letterbox of a home in Central Avenue. However, an occupant was alerted by a friend and only slight damage to the letterbox was caused.

Clarke’s name and address were still visible on the letter.

Later that morning, police were called to reports of another bin being set alight, this time in Meadenvale.

Local people identified Clarke and he was arrested.

When arrested he told officers that the reason he lit the fires was to calm his nerves.

One of the victims told the Peterborough Telegraph how Clarke started a fire in her bin, before dragging it infront of her electric meter.

She said: “What happened was clearly extremely dangerous.

“This was at 5am and my bedroom is at the back of the house so I would never have heard it.

“It’s lucky my neighbour heard the bin being dragged and managed to move it away before a canister inside blew up, otherwise I may not be here today.

“I had no idea the sentencing was even taking place but to hear he was given a suspended sentence means I’m petrified,

“Just knowing that he is out in the community, but not knowing where he is, is scary, I’ve even looked into moving house.

“A number of us are looking into going to the Court of Appeal.”

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