Arsonist Jailed After Threatening to Burn Down Neighbours’ Home
Richard Pallister, 36, from Bede Street, Easington Colliery, sparked terror in June 2019 after threatening to set fire to his neighbours’ house during an argument. When the couple dismissed his threat and went to the pub, they soon received a call: their home was ablaze.
Caught on CCTV, Pallister Pleads Guilty
Pallister was arrested soon after but initially denied the crime. CCTV footage showed him leaving the property moments before smoke billowed from inside. After a lengthy probe, he admitted arson at Durham Crown Court last month. The judge handed him three years behind bars and a £170 victim surcharge.
Youth Sentenced for Car Fire in Shotton Colliery
In a separate incident last month, a 14-year-old boy from Peterlee copped an eight-month youth referral order for setting fire to a car in Shotton Colliery in October. Police identified him on CCTV pouring accelerant over the vehicle. He pleaded guilty to arson.
Police Warn Arson Could Kill
Inspector Emma Kay of Peterlee Neighbourhood Police Team said: “The consequences of these attacks could have been fatal. It is only by chance the damage was limited to property.”
She added, “We hope these convictions reassure the community that we are cracking down on arson. Anyone with information is urged to contact Durham Police.”
