Mark Cole, 22, has now been sentenced and jailed for eight years and four months in prison for offences including arson and endangering life. He was also charged and sentenced for a number of other offences including assault on a police officer, two counts of burglary and assault causing actual bodily harm.

Mr Cole pleaded guilty to all offences during his trial at Grimsby Crown Court.

The charge of arson relates to an incident which occurred at a property on Elsenham Road, Grimsby on the 22nd of April 2019.

During this offence, Cole caused serious damage to the property by setting fire to a sofa and clothes from a nearby washing line.

His ex-girlfriend was not home at the time of the fire, however a neighbour had to be evacuated.

He also twice raided her home in two previous burglaries.

The court heard how the “havoc” caused by Mr Cole had left his ex-girlfriend terrified in her own home.

Detective Constable Chris Clarke of Grimsby’s Criminal Investigation Department said:

“Cole is a prolific offender who was responsible for a string of crimes in Grimsby including the very serious offence of arson with intent to endanger life.

His sustained campaign of crime not only caused distress and anguish, but put other people’s lives at risk.

He now has significant time behind bars where he’ll be unable to cause any more problems for the people and communities in Grimsby and North East Lincolnshire.”

In addition to Mark Cole’s prison sentence, this dangerous offender has also been given a further 4 years on extended license after his release.

In similar news:

In the early hours of Saturday morning, in another suspected case of arson, a car was set alight on Sandringham Road, Cleethorpes. Find updates here.

Contact Gi Grimsby
Email us: news@gi-media.co.uk
Follows us on Facebook and Twitter for all the latest local stories, breaking news and to join the conversation