Trio face arson charge after fire damages house
NEIGHBOURS IN ‘QUIET STREET’ WERE ‘SURPRISED’ BY INCIDENT
THREE men have appeared in court after an alleged arson attack on a semidetached home in a quiet Nottinghamshire street.
Residents who live on Broomhill Lane in Mansfield where the front door of a house was damaged by fire have spoken of their “surprise”.
Police and fire crews were called to the address on Wednesday just after 4am.
The front door was reported to have been on fire.
No-one was in the house and no-one was injured but the door and a doormat was damaged, and there was also smoke damage to the property.
A retired woman who lives on Fairholme Drive, but did not want to be named, said: “We were woken up by fire engines and it was around 4am.
“It did surprise us, it’s quite an extreme thing.
“It’s normally a nice quiet area and there isn’t usually any trouble.”
Another elderly resident who lives on Fairholme Drive said: “We saw fire engines, but by the time we woke up the fire was already out; it used to be quiet around here.”
Other residents also say the street is usually quiet.
Margaret King, 78, retired and living nearby, said: “There can be the odd thing that happens around here but usually it is quiet.
“I have to say that sort of thing is surprising though.”
Chris Chester, 32, who lives on Broomhill Lane, said: “Usually we sleep quite lightly, but we didn’t see any lights, hear any sirens or anything.
“The street is usually lovely, we have had problems in the past four or five years, but that’s slowed down now.
“I’ve lived in Mansfield all my life and you get what you pay for living here.”
A 32-year-old man who lives on Fairholme Drive, but did not wish to be named, said: “You get nearly no trouble on this street.
“My neighbour has lived here for 27 years and says he’s known nothing like it.”
Minutes after police arrived at the scene, three men were arrested.
Andrew Mcconnell, 21, of Bridge Street, Derbyshire, and Matthew Pallett, 43, of Burns Street, Mansfield, appeared together at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court yesterday charged with arson with intent to endanger life.
Mcconnell faces a further linked allegation of permitting the use of a motor vehicle with no insurance.
Pallett has linked offences of drinkdriving and using a vehicle without insurance.
Both men confirmed their dates of birth and addresses to the court before the charge of arson with intent to endanger life was read out to them.
No pleas were entered by either defendant as the matter can only be dealt with at a crown court. Their case was committed to Nottingham Crown Court on January 27. Both men will remain in custody. Harry Cairns faces the same allegation and his case was sent to the crown court on the same date and he will also remain in custody.
The 21-year-old, of Claydown Way, Slip End, Luton, did not enter a plea.
Detective Sergeant Gary Hewson, from Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Emergency services were quick to attend reports of the house fire.
“Thankfully no-one was injured but there is always the potential for fire to spiral out of control.
“Fire can have incredibly dangerous consequences, especially if people are living in adjoining properties.
“We will always thoroughly investigate reports of arson, which is a serious offence, and following our investigation we have now charged three men in connection with this incident.”
Anyone with information is urged to call Nottinghamshire Police on 101, quoting incident number 75 of December 29, or alternatively call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.