Man convicted after flat fire in Hackney

A man has been convicted of multiple offences after he deliberately started a fire at his flat in Hackney.

The blaze injured five people including one passer-by and prompted a response from multiple emergency services. One person sustained a fractured hip after jumping from a window to escape and a baby was also checked over by paramedics but fortunately, did not sustain any injuries.

On Friday, 6 September, Ian Pitkin, 64 (30.04.60) of Newick Road, E5, appeared at Wood Green Crown Court, where he was sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of six years and 17 days.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to:

- Arson with intent to endanger life;
- Four counts of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear of violence;
- Three counts of having an offensive weapon in a public place.

Officers were called to a fire at Pitkin’s ground floor flat in Newick Road, E5 at approximately 12:45hrs on Wednesday, 20 March 2024.

They responded with London Ambulance Service paramedics and the London Fire Brigade.

Pitkin was arrested shortly after the incident whilst seeking medical attention for his own injuries that he sustained in the fire.

Officers located his car and a search found a number of jerry cans filled with petrol, as well as four air weapons, three knives and two hammers.

Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, policing lead for Hackney and Tower Hamlets, said: "Pitkin’s actions endangered the lives of his neighbours, who were forced to flee their homes in fear for their lives. Several victims were forced to jump from their windows and a family even had to throw their baby down to waiting relatives below.

“The damage to the building speaks for itself and it is remarkable that nobody was more seriously injured. However, the psychological impact was well evidenced through the victim impact statements submitted to court, with victims reporting hearing explosions as the fire took hold in the property below them.

"My officers have worked for many months to investigate the motive for this incident and gather evidence to explain Pitkin’s actions. This incident was pre-planned, rather than spontaneous, with Pitkin purchasing jerry cans and petrol in the week prior to the incident, in addition to having previously acquired numerous air pistols and bladed weapons.

“We believe the arson and planned action was linked to a housing dispute and Pitkin indicated a clear intention to harm others, beyond those injured in the fire, who were connected with that housing dispute.

“In doing so we were able to evidence the fact that he expressed clear anti-Semitic sentiment on several occasions and the Crown Prosecution Service invited the court to treat racial and religious hostility as an aggravating factors."

In his sentencing remarks, when considering count 1, HHJ Fugallo identified several aggravating features. In respect of racial/religious hostility, he said: "This offence was motivated by, and demonstrates a, hostility towards people of Jewish faith."

DCS Conway added: “We welcome this significant sentence which clearly reflects both the danger he posed and this aggravating factor.”