A man has admitted in court to starting a string of fires across Gloucester city centre earlier this year.
Anthony Reed-Metcalfe pleaded guilty to three counts of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, as well as one count of burglary, when he appeared at Gloucester Crown Court on Tuesday (12 November).
Reed-Metcalfe, aged 32 and of Eastern Avenue, Gloucester, had been accused of starting three fires at properties in the city in the early hours of Sunday 29 September this year.
Shortly after 1am, police were called to a report of a building on fire on Southgate Street.
On arrival, officers saw smoke billowing out of a first-floor window. As the Fire Service was making the building safe, another fire was spotted inside a building two doors down.
Both the buildings were disused shops with residential properties above them, resulting in people being evacuated for their safety.
A short time after, a number of calls were made to police to report large bin fires at different spots around the city. Police believed that the fires were being started deliberately.
A witness was able to identify a possible suspect to officers, describing the person as wearing black clothing and carrying a red and white shopping bag.
At around 3am, CCTV operators spotted a man matching the description and alerted police officers patrolling the city centre.
He was spotted in the car park of Gloucester railway station and, while officers were searching the area, they heard the sound of smashing glass coming from the direction of The Station Hotel. Emerging from a broken window was Reed-Metcalfe, who was swiftly detained and arrested on suspicion of arson.
After being handcuffed, Reed-Metcalfe told officers that he had started a fire in the building. He claimed he had been exploring and had set fire to a mattress and paper.
He added that he had left his bags in the hotel and claimed that there was somebody still in the building.
Fire crews were able to bring the blaze, which was on the first floor of the building, under control. A search was made and, while the bags were found, it was confirmed no other people were in the building.
A preliminary fire report confirmed that the fire in The Station Hotel was set deliberately. Catastrophic damage was caused to the first floor; however, the building is believed to be structurally safe.
Retrospective CCTV enquiries identified a man matching Reed-Metcalfe’s description carrying a white and red carrier bag walking towards and into the properties on Southgate Street in the moments before the first fire began.
The owner of one of the properties was able to identify items discovered inside Reed-Metcalfe’s bags as having been stolen from him.
Detective Constable Tom Newrick, from Gloucestershire Constabulary’s Criminal Investigation Department, said: “Reed-Metcalfe acted in a dangerous and irresponsible manner, potentially putting people’s lives at serious risk through his actions.
“It was thanks to the diligent work that we were able to apprehend him and he has been left in a position where he has no option but admit to the offences.”
Reed-Metcalfe was remanded in custody ahead of sentencing. A date for his sentence hearing is due to be arranged on Monday 18 November.
