A man from Caernarfon has been handed a prison sentence of over five years after setting fire to a home by pouring petrol through the letterbox and igniting it, seemingly indifferent to the welfare of those inside. The incident, which occurred last December in Cae Llwybr, left one individual injured and caused significant property damage.
Kevin Evans, aged 33 and residing in Cae Bold, was seen donning a balaclava and carrying out the attack in broad daylight. Equipped with a green jerry can, Evans was observed surveying the property before feeding petrol through the letterbox and setting it alight. He then attempted to dispose of the jerry can in a skip, concealing it within a plastic bag. The scene quickly filled with smoke as emergency services responded, and one resident was found inside suffering from burns, though their injuries were fortunately non-fatal.
Eyewitness accounts were pivotal in the aftermath. One witness, Mia Jones, recounted seeing a disguised man limping towards the property, carrying a distinctive supermarket bag. Upon realising the petrol attack was underway, she quickly alerted her partner and the pair managed to flee before the fire took hold. Their rapid escape undoubtedly prevented further tragedy, though the blaze still caused approximate damages of £7,000 to the property’s entrance and porch, owned by the Adra housing association.
Shortly after the fire, police searching for Evans discovered him at his home attempting to wash petrol-soaked clothing, which raised further suspicions. Officers traced his movements prior to the attack with the help of local CCTV footage, which showed Evans purchasing a green jerry can and filling it with petrol at a nearby Texaco service station less than twenty minutes before the incident. He paid in cash and then left as a passenger in a car, making efforts to cover his tracks.
Evans was also seen in possession of what appeared to be a large knife or possibly a machete during the incident, which led to a concurrent six-month jail term for carrying a bladed article in public. When questioned by police following his arrest, Evans declined to answer. However, the evidence against him was compelling enough for him to eventually plead guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
During the sentencing at Caernarfon Crown Court, it emerged that Evans’ actions may have been influenced by prior trauma. His defence appointed legal counsel, Elen Owen, told the court that Evans had been a recent victim of violent assault, suffering a fractured skull after being attacked with a golf club. Since his remand in custody, he was diagnosed with a brain injury, which his solicitor argued could have had some bearing on his state of mind and judgement during the arson offence.
Judge Nicola Jones, who presided over the case, delivered a sentence of five years and seven months for the arson, alongside a ten-year restraining order preventing Evans from contacting Mia Jones or Andrew Marshall. The court was also careful to acknowledge that the registered tenant of the targeted property, Terence Riley, was not present at the scene and was not in any way involved.
This case highlights the serious risks that reckless acts of arson pose to the community, as well as the lasting impact such incidents have on all those affected. The prompt actions of those inside the property, combined with swift emergency service response, averted an even greater tragedy.
Despite mitigating circumstances relating to Evans’ recent experiences and health, the court held that the gravity of his actions necessitated a substantial custodial sentence. The ruling aims both to punish and to deter similar offences, underlining the dangers inherent in such reckless criminal behaviour.
Residents of Caernarfon have been left shocked by the events, while authorities continue to stress the importance of community vigilance and prompt reporting where suspicious activity is observed. The incident underlines the need for ongoing support for both victims of crime and those at risk of being drawn into cycles of violence themselves.