Two more sentenced over Brighton arson attacks
A man and woman have already been jailed after homes and cars were set alight
Two more people have been sentenced for their roles in a series of arson attacks in Brighton, taking the total number convicted to four.
The three blazes were started deliberately at homes and in a car in the city in September 2023.
28-year-old Marcus Murphy and 26-year-old Bronnie Richards, both of Cantelupe Road in Bexhill, were both given 18-month suspended prison sentences at Lewes Crown Court on Monday (January 17th) for their role in the incidents, along with a community order.
It follows the jailing of a man and woman for a combined 14 years last month.
21-year-old Ellie-Mai Dunford of Grove Road in Eastbourne received a sentence of seven years and four months, while 26-year-old Callum Radband of Curf Way in Burgess Hill was jailed for six years and eight months for his role in two of the fires.
The series began on September 24th, 2023, when a Range Rover was set alight outside a property in Downsway, Woodingdean.
The following evening, another fire at Down Terrace, Brighton was reported. The blaze devastated the building, resulting in a woman and her dog being forced to escape through an upstairs window.
Just 25 minutes later, a third fire was reported in Norwich Crescent, Brighton.
No-one was injured during the blaze, and it was quickly extinguished before it could cause any further damage, leaving only the bricks scalded, and a window frame damaged.
Investigator Aimee Gorman of Sussex Police said:
"These three incidents not only caused significant damage, but also instilled widespread fear, extending beyond the direct victims and into the local community.
"Following the sentencing of Dunford, Radband, Richards and Murphy, we hope the victims can begin to move forward and put these events behind them.
"We would also like to express our gratitude to the community for their support throughout the investigation.
"Their assistance, including providing crucial details and CCTV footage, played a vital role in helping us identify the suspects and secure convictions.”