Man set fire to his own house

A MAN set fire to his own home in the early hours of the morning in an attempt to convince police he was a victim of crime.
His partner and her son were asleep in bed at the time and he aroused them and got them out of the house.
But he didn’t know police had set up a CCTV camera nearby, following a spate of criminal activity in the area, Warrington Crown Court was told.
Police studied the tapes, realised no-one else had approached the house prior to the fire and arrested the 28-year-old.
Bowden, of Winifred Street, Warrington admitted perverting the course of justice and was given a nine month jail sentence, suspended for two years.
He was also placed under supervision for two years and made subject of a 8pm-7am curfew for six months.
Merion Lewis-Jones, prosecuting, said Bowden reported a brick being thrown through his window at 11.40pm. Police arrived but said they would return to take details the following morning.
At 4.30am the following morning, Bowden called the fire brigade saying his house was on fire. Police and fire arrived and Bowden claimed to have been in bed when the fire started. But police became suspicious when they examined the CCTV tapes.
Bowden was arrested and admitted starting the fire himself.
Oliver Jarvis, defending, said Bowden suffered from depression, panic attacks and alcohol problems. He had a panic attack when the police said they would return in the morning to look into the smashed window, instead of dealing with it straight away. He realised he had done “an unbelievably stupid thing.”