Norfolk arsonist who punched firefighter in face jailed

Timothy Finn, 36, ran back into the burning building when the fire service arrived and attacked one of the crew as he tried to drag him out.

Norwich Crown Court heard the blaze was started as an "act of revenge" against his partner following an argument about Finn's excessive drinking.Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest) Ian James, prosecuting, said Finn had a "volatile temperament" and was "adversely affected" by his use of drugs and alcohol.

He said authorities were "alerted" after a fire broke out at the property in Fairway Drive, Watton, at about 8.40pm on October 4 last year.

Finn was "running around shouting expletives" when the fire service arrived before re-entering the address.

The firefighters located him but one of them, who was wearing a respiratory mask, was punched in the face.

The fireman was still able to drag him out before going back into the building to put out the blaze.

Finn, of no fixed abode, appeared in court on Friday, having admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and assaulting an emergency worker.

Timothy Finn (Image: Norfolk Constabulary) Sentencing Finn to an extended eight-and-a-half year sentence, made up of four-and-a-half years custody and four years on licence, Recorder Michael Turner said it was "very fortunate" the fireman was "wearing protective breathing apparatus" so was not injured.

But he said both the victim and a colleague had to remove Finn from the property "preventing them from extinguishing the fire for a while and exposing both them and yourself to danger as a direct consequence".

He also said Finn's "incredibly dangerous" actions had also put at risk neighbours and properties nearby.

The court was told that Finn had suggested he was attempting suicide.

But Recorder Turner said it was "doubtful" whether it was a genuine attempt to kill himself and said the reality was it had been an "act of revenge" against his partner.

He accepted Finn had an extensive mental health history, including emotionally unstable personality disorder and complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from sexual abuse he is said to have suffered but concluded he was a "dangerous offender".

Sophie Clifford, mitigating, said Finn should receive credit for his pleas.

In previous hearings, Rob Pollington, Finn's former barrister, said the defendant was "without a shadow of a doubt a very troubled individual".