Arsonist who set fire to ex's caravan 'didn’t care who he hurt'

A man who sent threatening messages to his ex-partner before setting her static caravan alight has been jailed for 12 years.

Lord Curtis Lodge, from Lutterworth, sent threatening text messages to his ex-partner, saying he would "burn her place down", before setting fire to her property.

He was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court today, having been found guilty of one count of arson with intent to endanger life.

The victim owned a static caravan at a site near Loughborough, and thankfully, wasn't in it at the time of the fire. It was completely destroyed in the blaze.

The 33-year-old was arrested on the day of the attack and an examination of his phone confirmed that he had been sending the messages.

A nearby caravan caught alight too, owned by a member of the victim's family who was sleeping at the time, with his partner and three children inside. They managed to escape unharmed.

The owners of both caravans have said that his actions have had a "major impact" on their lives, stating they have "struggled to sleep since" and that "his crimes have also taken away a source of income".

Upon his release, he will be placed on a three-year extended licence and is also subject to a restraining order forbidding him from contacting the victims or entering the borough of Charnwood.

Detective Constable Aimee Farmer, from the force’s Complex Investigation Team (CIT), was the investigating officer. She said: “Lodge set alight to the caravan with the intention of causing as much damage as possible. He didn’t care who he hurt – physically or emotionally.

“Thankfully those who were sleeping at the time managed to escape unharmed, but they are still living with the consequences of his actions that night.

“I know they are still trying to rebuild their lives, but I hope they can find some relief from the fact he has been brought to justice and will be spending time in prison, meaning that they may finally be able to move on.”