Arsonist who launched blazes at Staffordshire University and Stoke hospital jailed for life

Thomas Ashcroft deliberately set fire to a Staffordshire University building and also started a blaze at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

The 40-year-old plotted to steal cash from the buildings after starting the infernos, Stafford Crown Court heard.

Staffordshire Police's Detective Inspector Dan Ison said: "Ashcroft has a track record as a serial commercial burglar and has adopted the practice of setting off the fire alarm to encourage the evacuation of the building.

"Once empty he then attempts to steal money from within the building. Good work by our officers has stopped him from doing this again.

"His tactic of setting light to buildings is both reckless and dangerous and could have resulted in the deaths of many people.

"We welcome this sentence and hope it deters others from thinking they can get away with such illegal and hazardous acts."

Ashcroft, who admitted arson, will be eligible for parole after serving seven years and 182 days.

The criminal, of Musgrave Crescent, Sheffield, set fire to the university's Beacon Building on the afternoon on June 7 last year.

He set fire to toilet paper in the disabled toilets on the first floor of the College Road Campus in Stoke-on-Trent, the court heard on Friday.

Ashcroft was captured on CCTV sitting outside after starting the blaze and then walking off campus once firefighters arrived.

The defendant then made his way down to the basement floor at the hospital's main building, which houses 14 operating theatres and the critical care unit.

He set light to plastic bagged items stored in metal cages before walking past a hospital porter and saying "isn't it warm down here?".

A man on his way to the critical care unit discovered the fire and alerted staff, prompting an evacuation.

Ashcroft also activated the fire alarm before going to a second floor restaurant.

The arsonist, who had planned to steal cash from the tills but was deterred by a staff member who was still in the building, then left.

Rob Barber, Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service's deputy chief fire officer, said: "We welcome this sentence which reflects the seriousness of Ashcroft's actions.

"The hospital fire put many people's lives at risk and it took considerable time and resources to bring it to a safe conclusion.

"Our fire investigator worked closely with colleagues from Staffordshire Police to support them during their investigation.

"As a service, we take arson extremely seriously and we are pleased that justice has been brought against the man responsible for these reckless incidents."

Officers tracked Ashcroft to Manchester's Redhill Street and arrested him the following day.