Henry Blackshaw secures conviction of arsonist over a series of attacks

A truck driver, Mariusz Wieczorek, has been charged with arson over a series of attacks in a Salford residential block of flats.

Despite living in the building with his girlfriend and her child, Wieczorek piled up bulk items in a refuse store before setting them alight. The fires were discovered at 5.55pm on September 5, 2015, at lunchtime on January 13, 2016, and finally at 1am on February 7.

“Manchester Crown Court heard that the only motive for the vendetta was Wieczorek’s unhappiness over parking arrangements at the Rodney Street flats. He felt ‘disrespected’ when he was warned against parking on kerbs, and was angered when an automated barrier stopped him getting to his HGV driver’s job on time.”

Prosecutor Henry Blackshaw said: “The case was put on compelling circumstantial evidence. The flats have the benefit of a sophisticated CCTV system…it was clear he was entering in the room and setting these fires on the soft furnishings – the type of items which generate dense, black, toxic smoke.”

Mariusz Wieczorek was sentenced for seven-and-a-half years.

 

Read the full article: http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/salford-arson-fire-breathing-dragon-12071774