Teen sentenced after Derby arson attacks
A 19 year old's been given a hospital order.
A teenager will stay in medical custody after admitting to starting seven fires across Derby.
19 year old Johnny Brady set the fires at schools, cafes and churches back in 2020.
They included Ravensdale Infants school and All Saints Church Mackworth, which were both destroyed.
Superintendent Sarah McAughtrie, who led policing in the city at the time of the arson attacks, said:
“The series of fires had an enormous impact on the Derby community and left those who live in the city in real fear.
“As a parent, I know what schools mean to children and the destruction of two much-loved buildings was a huge loss to everyone involved with them. It also further disrupted the education of those pupils at a time when they were just getting back to a sense of normality after the previous months of home schooling.
“The only fortunate part of this devastating series of arson attacks was that, miraculously, nobody was seriously hurt in the fires – but that was certainly more luck than judgment.”
Through CCTV trawls around the first six sites- police knew the perpetrator was using a bike or scooter to travel to and from the attacks.
How was Brady caught?
The breakthrough for the case came when an officer was sent to take a statement following the sixth blaze – at St Paul’s Church in Quarndon, where fire damage had been discovered.
As the officer finished taking a statement from the vicar, Brady appeared at the churchyard and, after giving an implausible reason for being at the location of the suspected arson attack, was arrested.
A subsequent search of the then 17-year-old’s house led to the discovery of a mountain bike and an e-scooter, as well as a phone and a computer.
Digital forensics experts reviewed the computer finding that Brady had made internet searches following each of the incidents – hunting for news items and social media posts about fires in the areas – just hours after the fires had been set.
Detectives then spent painstaking hours reconstructing the CCTV images of the bike seen in the areas of the arson incidents using the mountain bike that had been seized from his home – with specific details of Brady’s bike matching the one seen on footage from the nights of the arson incidents.
With Brady released on police bail, and the investigation ongoing, no further arson incidents linked to Brady took place until the afternoon of Thursday 3 December when a fire engulfed the All Saint’s Church in Mackworth.
Brady was immediately visited by officers due to the similar circumstances of the previous incidents and he was arrested wearing the same grey hooded top and black trousers as a figure captured walking towards the church less than two hours before the fire was discovered.
Sentence:
After admitting setting all seven fires as well as a further charge of burglary, the 19-year-old was handed a Hospital Order under the Mental Health Act 1987.
Supt McAughtrie said:
“The final fire set by Brady at All Saints Church in Mackworth again robbed a community of a focal point that had a special place in peoples’ hearts. From weddings to funerals, Christenings to carol concerts, the church was a place of real meaning for people.
“The overwhelming evidence that was presented to Brady meant that he had no other option than to plead guilty to the offences – and that guilty plea is testament to the outstanding work that was undertaken by the investigation team under incredible pressure to keep our communities safe.
“The sentence passed today ensures that the public are safe, and that Brady gets the help that he needs.”
Clive Stanbrook, Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service Area Manager, said:
“The impact of the fires set by Brady will be remembered by the communities affected for many years to come.
“Despite the best efforts of the firefighters attending, St Mary’s School, Ravensdale Infants School and All Saint’s Church were destroyed, affecting the education of hundreds of school children and their families, as well as taking away a place of worship that sat at the heart of the Mackworth community.
“I’d like to acknowledge the work of our police colleagues for their meticulous investigation that was able to identify and arrest Brady before any further fires were set, ensuring the safety of our communities. I hope today’s sentencing will serve as a deterrent to others.
“As has been evidenced in this case, deliberate fire setting has a devastating impact on communities, so I’d like to take this opportunity to remind people that if they ever have information about any deliberate fire setting in their area, that they can report it 100% anonymously to the independent charity FireStoppers, by calling 0800 169 5558 or online at firestoppersreport.co.uk “