The men who caused a Hyndburn Homes property to explode – supposedly for £27,000 in insurance money – have both been sentenced to four years in prison.
A report by
Accrington Observer identified the two as 27-year-old Samuel Todd and 23-year-old Ryan Ibbitson, who were found guilty in a Preston Crown Court trial for conspiracy to commit arson and being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
The hearing found that extensive amounts of petrol were poured around the house on Cumberland Avenue, with CCTV footage showing how it exploded after Todd and Ibbitson turned on a cooker’s gas rings and ignited the fuel.
Their other charges were conspiracy to commit fraud by false representation and being concerned in the production of cannabis – £5,000 worth of cannabis plants had been grown in the property in Clayton-le-Moors but were moved prior to the April 15, 2014 blaze.
Judge Jonathan Gibson described the incident as a “horrifying explosion” which could have killed or badly injured people. It left the property completely destroyed.
A family residing next door – who fortunately were not present during the 2am blast – were forced to seek shelter elsewhere for two years because part of their house was damaged and had to be repaired.
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