Runcorn man found guilty of burning down school

A man has been found guilty of setting fire to a school and stalking teachers working there, as part of his personal crusade to 'protect children'.

Phillip Day, from Runcorn, was found guilty after a six week trial at Chester Crown Court on charges of arson and stalking relating to a school in Rudheath, Northwich.

The 55-year-old was also found not guilty of one count of burglary at the same trial.

The case dates back to 2010, when Day made unfounded allegations against a teacher from the University of Chester Academy Northwich (UCAN), which was formally known as Rudheath High School.

An investigation was carried out by the Cheshire Police Public Protection Directorate but the claims were never substantiated.

Day was not satisfied with the outcome, and believing that there had been a cover-up, he decided to launch a personal crusade in a bid to achieve his own justice.

Over the following years, Day stalked the school and those working within it, specifically focusing on the head teacher and the teacher that he had made the original allegations against.

During this time he posted a number of messages and videos on social media naming the teacher – he also falsely claimed that children had been harmed at the academy.

Day went as far as warning parents against sending their children to the school as they were attending an open evening for prospective pupils.

His actions escalated, and in February 2018 he deliberately set fire to the school.

The roof of the building was set on fire in 17 different locations. Day had removed roof tiles and pierced the felt before pouring petrol inside and lighting it.

He was seen by people living nearby calmly strolling around the school grounds carrying a jerrycan as the roof was on fire.

Two local residents took it upon themselves to locate Day as he left the site. They saw him running across a road outside the school before losing sight of him.

The couple then saw a red Volvo drive away from the scene and noted down the registration number. Police traced this vehicle as being registered to Day’s wife.

Day was later arrested in relation to the incident and at the time of his arrests he was in possession of the keys to the vehicle; the vehicle itself was located in cul-de-sac near to his home.

Following his arrest, Day refused to answer any questions put to him by officers.

The fire caused extensive damage to the school; it is estimated the damage will cost in the region of £2.4 million to repair.

Following his arrest in Cheshire officers were contacted by colleagues at Essex Police, who wanted to speak to Day regarding a burglary and arson at a house in Essex.

The incident was linked to a case where Day again believed that there had been a miscarriage of justice involving a woman.

Officers discovered that Day had contacted the woman over social media and started to have an affair with her.

After forming a relationship with her, Day decided to target a man involved in the same case.

On 31 December 2017 Day drove to the man’s home in Saffron Waldenand set fire to the property. He set 15 separate fires across the building causing £1.6million worth of damage.

Just hours after starting the fire Day posted on social media that his New Year’s resolution was to ‘work for children’.

Following today’s sentencing, Detective Constable Paul Cundy, from Northwich CID, said:

Paul Binyon, from Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, added:

Day will be sentenced on April 12th.