A jealous arsonist who "destroyed" his former marital home in a deliberate act of fire-setting has been jailed. Grant Carlisle inflicted nearly £200,000 worth of damage to the Hucknall property where his ex-wife and youngest son lived.
Nottingham Crown Court heard how the 46-year-old used tools to break into the house and then ignited the blaze on the mattress of his former marital bed, as well as at two other locations. Upon his arrest, he attempted to pin the blame on his ex's new partner, claiming he had "set him up".
Sentencing and judge's remarks
Sentencing him to two years and eight months behind bars, Judge Stuart Rafferty KC said: "It is perfectly clear from all I have read about you that you were unable to accept that the relationship with your wife had come to an end."
"Because of that you behaved in a way that you might not ordinarily have done. Relationships break down all the time, sadly, but that is not an excuse to commit crime because if it was then carnage would ensue."
"You broke into your former matrimonial home and within it was a lifetime of memories. Yours, your wife's, your children's and you thought nothing about destroying all that."
"You lit fires, not one, but several, and having seen the CCTV I do not accept for one minute you went back to try and put the fire out."
Details of the fire
The fire erupted at the home in Westminster Way during the early hours of April 24 last year. Prosecutor Catherine Picardo said the neighbouring resident was woken by the sound of the alarm and witnessed thick black smoke.
Carlisle's former wife and son were fortunately not inside the property, but when the son arrived he spotted his father in the area who fled.
The prosecutor said: "There were three ignition points in the house and these were the living room, a mattress in the master bedroom and on a spare room mattress. Tool marks were noted at a kitchen window for the point of entry."
"(The wife) had received contact via an email from the defendant earlier that day in which he was upset about her new relationship."
Investigation and plea
Police had traced the defendant's movements before the fire at a petrol station and from CCTV and a taxi booking. After being arrested, Carlisle was interviewed and told officers the victim's new partner had set him up and someone else had started the fire.
The hearing was told how an insurance company report said the final cost to them was £194,000.
The defendant, of Hucknall, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and has no previous convictions. David Watts, in mitigation, stated his client has since embarked on a new relationship.
He said: "What the psychiatric report shows is that at the time this was a man at his wits end. It was very much out of character and he is very much in a better place now."
Additional orders
In addition to the prison sentence, the judge issued Carlisle with a five-year restraining order. He stated any claim for compensation would be a matter for the insurance company.
