An arsonist whose crime spree at dead of night left a couple and their two young children trapped in terror in their burning home has been given a 14 and a half year extended jail sentence.
Luke Patchett was today labelled a public danger and imprisoned for seven and a half years with a seven-year licence period on top of that.
Recorder Ben Nolan KC told him he was impetuous and immature with a reckless disregard for the consequences of his actions and the risk to human life.
He posed a high risk of serious harm to members of the public, particularly when under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
Patchett, 33, of Bolton Hall Road, Wrose, Shipley, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, two offences of arson, two burglaries, an attempted burglary, two offences of criminal damage, and theft.
Bradford Crown Court heard that he went to the home of an acquaintance in Denholme at 1am on June 13. There was an argument when he was heavily intoxicated and probably under the influence of drugs.
Patchett left the address, stealing the man’s phone and throwing a brick through his living room window.
He set fire to a car on Knowles Street and interfered with another vehicle before committing the reckless arson on Clapham Street. He ignited the family’s Peugeot parked outside their front door and the blaze spread to the house.
The couple were woken by the fire alarm and saw flames. Smoke was filling the property leaving them trapped upstairs. They had to be rescued by firefighters who first extracted the smoke and then led them to safety.
The heat from the blaze smashed the window of the bedroom where the children had been sleeping.
“This must have been a terrifying incident,” Recorder Nolan said.
The family had been profoundly affected, emotionally and financially, and they were made homeless.
The blazing Peugeot damaged another car parked nearby.
Patchett then went to a house in Pleasant View, opened the garage, took a bag of tools and then deliberately set fire to another nearby garage at 4am.
There was a large blaze that caused thick smoke to build quickly. The fire service was called and the householders were treated for smoke inhalation.
Patchett next burgled a woman’s home in Keighley Road, taking her vehicle keys and stealing her car. He then attempted to burgle another address, trying the door handle. After his arrest, he failed to provide a sample of saliva for Class A drugs analysis and made no comment when questioned by the police.
He had 40 previous convictions for 71 offences, including theft, house burglary, robbery and attempted robbery.
The mother whose family was trapped in their home recalled being woken by the fire alarm and seeing thick black smoke.
“The only hope we had was that the fire crew would get to us soon and get us out,” she said.
Her husband told her that one or both of their cars were on fire and it had spread to the house.
The family were taken to hospital by ambulance, with the children shivering in their pyjamas.
“We can’t go back to our home, it no longer feels like home,” she said.
Patchett’s barrister, Gerald Hendron said in mitigation that he had no previous convictions for arson.
He had been drinking and ‘something quite extraordinary’ occurred to make him act in this way. His recollection of that night was limited but he accepted full responsibility for his actions.
He had expressed deep regret and sorrow for what he did. He never intended to harm anyone but recognised that it was a consequence of him setting fire to the car that the house caught light and the family were trapped.
He was due to be married at the time and he had the offer of work in a warehouse until he was remanded in prison.
Mr Hendron said Patchett had got himself a job while on remand in HMP Leeds and knew he would receive a lengthy custodial sentence.
His psychiatrist did not find that he was public danger, the court heard. His report stated that the offences were out of character.
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