A Basingstoke couple of been jailed for starting a fire in the home with the purpose of defrauding an insurance company.
Ian John Morgan claimed the fire, at his property in Haydn Road on June 20 2009, was started by intruders. He was jailed for four years for committing arson, being reckless whether life would be endangered.
His girlfriend Zoe Ann Martin, was sentenced to two years for an act tending and intending to pervert the course of public justice. The pair appeared before Winchester Crown Court for sentencing on Thursday, February 25.
The incident was investigation by police officers from Basingstoke CID, the Forensic Science Service and Hampshire’s Arson Task Force. Arson Task Force Detective Constable Mark Leonard hailed the case as a great success.
He said: “Arson results in around 100 deaths per year in England and Wales. It also represents a substantial loss to the UK economy, more than £2billion a year. This successful prosecution highlights the fact that we fully investigate all fires in Hampshire and will bring any criminals to justice. Based on experience, we know that social and economic trends in recession can create significant new pressures with the potential to drive up numbers of deliberate fires.
“The number of vacant houses ay increase; the more cars may be abandoned; business premises may fall into disuse; and the temptation to commit insurance fraud may rise. These factors all present challenges for the fire and rescue service, but when fires do occur, we work with specialist fire investigators to find out exactly what has happened. If you set fire to your own property, we will catch you.”
Fore more information on keeping safe from fire visit www.hantsfire.gov.uk
