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CAUGHT on camera: arsonist Paul Hambleton
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Hero’ unmasked as an arsonist
by Adam Derbyshire1/10/2008
A WHEELIE bin arsonist who started more than a dozen fires during a reign of terror in Denton has been jailed indefinitely.
Armed with a lighter, Paul Hambleton, 21, prowled the streets in the dead of night slaking his fascination with fire by torching bins last autumn.
In a desperate bid to play the hero, Hambleton often stayed near the scene as the flames took hold and told householders he had called fire crews.
One resident even bought the culprit a crate of beer to thank him for dialling 999.
But the former mobile phone salesman met his downfall after one resident Terry Glover handed over incriminating CCTV footage to police. Mr Glover, who put up the cameras after a spate of anti-social behaviour, was astonished to see Hambleton creep on to his drive in Town Lane and set his bin alight.
Hambleton was arrested during the early hours of 15 December last year as he ran away after having set alight a wheelie bin at the side of another house in Town Lane.
The couple and their six-year-old child living at the house were not injured and a small amount of damage was caused to the wall. Police discovered the serial firebug had been behind at least a further eight blazes between October and December last year.
The total damage caused to property and vehicles following Hambleton’s arson spree cost almost £9,000 to repair.
Hambleton, formerly of Kennedy Way, Denton admitted at an earlier hearing at Manchester Crown Court to nine counts of arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered.
A further nine counts have been ordered to lie on the file.
He was sentenced to an indeterminate term of imprisonment for public protection and ordered to serve a minimum of two years behind bars before he will be eligible for parole.
Detective constable Darren Byrne, of Ashton CID, said: "What Hambleton did was not only stupid, but also dangerous. His disregard for people’s safety has had an effect on many people in his local area. He caused a lot of damage, put them at risk and it is fortunate nobody was injured."
Station commander Steve Heath said: "He was a dangerous attention seeker. The arson attacks showed no signs of slowing. Wheelie bin fires easily spread to people’s homes. It was imperative he was caught before someone was killed."
To watch the shocking footage of Hambleton’s campaign of arson log on to www.tamesideadvertiser.co.uk
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9/10/2008 at 04:55