Man jailed for setting rented bedroom on fire

Allen was unharmed in the fire

A 32-year-old man has been jailed for deliberately setting fire to his rented room.

Joshua Allen of Woodston, Peterborough, started the fire on 12 March.

The fire narrowly avoided spreading to neighbouring houses and putting other people’s lives at risk, police said.

While being handcuffed by an officer for his own safety, he flipped forward and knocked the officer to the ground.

Allen has been jailed for two years

The officer hit her head but was not seriously injured.

An investigation revealed the fire was started on a mattress.

Had the bedroom windown been open, it would have spread along the roof and into neighbouring terraced houses, officers said.

One of the neighbours, who was elderly and deaf, had not heard the commotion and was described as “at significant risk of danger” if the fire had escalated.

Allen's friend raised the alarm after the defendant called her and firefighters were sent to the house at just after 18:30 BST.

Allen admitted causing the fire and subsequent damage, but claimed he did not mean to hurt anyone other than himself.

On Friday, Allen was jailed for two years at Cambridge Crown Court after admitting assaulting an officer and arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

Sgt Lauren Clark said: "Although Allen claimed he only wanted to harm himself, his actions were selfish and dangerous.

"I am thankful nobody was hurt but it could have been a very different story."