Daniel Kerwood, a Whitby sex offender who jeopardised the life of a young child and others by igniting his partner’s residence, has been sentenced to five years in prison.
Daniel Kerwood, 39, ignited a fire in a bedroom of the semi-detached residence and extricated his girlfriend by proposing a stroll with their dogs, stated Richard Holland, prosecuting at York Crown Court.
Three individuals in the neighbouring residence, including a toddler, were unaware of his actions until they heard a smoke alarm activate and seen the flames.
The fire department was summoned, and the partner returned from a walk and shopping trip to find her residence of over ten years ablaze.
She told the court she now has nightmares about fires, is on anti-depressants and fears that when he is released from prison Daniel Kerwood will seek her out.
The Recorder of York, Judge Sean Morris, said firefighters had had to risk their own lives by going into the house to put their fire out, which they had managed to do before it spread to the neighbour’s house where the toddler was.
“You have no insight into what you did,” he told Daniel Kerwood. “I have to consider whether that makes you dangerous. I am just of the view …. you are not yet dangerous. This arises out of your besottedness with your partner.”
He jailed Daniel Kerwood for five years and banned him from contacting the woman in any way for ten years.
Daniel Kerwood, formerly of Whitby and now of no fixed address, denied arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered but was convicted by a jury at York Crown Court earlier this year.
The court heard he is a registered sex offender because of a conviction unrelated to the woman.
His barrister, Glenn Parsons, said he potentially had attention deficit hyperactive disorder and probably was autistic with a low IQ and learning difficulties.
“Someone with his limitations is a soft target for people in custody,” said the defence barrister, adding that Daniel Kerwood had already been the victim of attacks while on remand.
The judge agreed that Daniel Kerwood had low intelligence.
The woman told the court: “I was absolutely devastated when I saw my house was on fire. I was distressed not only by losing my own but also my daughter’s belongings and my house as well.”
She had now got new accommodation but had had to spend more than £1,300 replacing her furniture and other items.
Mr Holland said the woman had been trying to persuade Daniel Kerwood not to live in her Whitby home and Daniel Kerwood had previously breached a domestic violence protection order made to try and protect her.
Daniel Kerwood lied to police that he had been assaulted earlier in the day and backed up the lies by sending messages about it to an acquaintance before starting the fire. He then claimed the unknown attacker may have started the fire.
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