LOCAL ARSONIST JAILED

A 20-year-old man from Macclesfield is behind bars after trying to set fire to a house on a Wilmslow estate with three industrial fireworks.

At an earlier hearing Daniel Greenslade, from Lincoln Walk, was found guilty of arson with intent to endanger life. He was sentenced at Chester Crown Court to eight years in a young offenders institute.

Greenslade smashed through a downstairs window of a house in Moorsbrook Road, Wilmslow on November 11 2010.

He then threw three large fireworks in through the window, two of which exploded, setting fire to the lounge and sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky.

Neighbours came to the aid of the victim who was in the house at the time.

Detective Sergeant Andy Harwood said: “Greenslade knew that his victim was inside the address and it is chilling to think that the consequences could have been very tragic indeed.

“Thankfully, his victim`s neighbours heard the explosion and alerted her and the emergency services. The incident took place at 11pm when his victim was at home on her own.

“She heard a bang downstairs and looked into her back garden. She saw Greenslade crouching by a window then saw him throw something through the lounge window.

Moments later she heard a loud explosion and neighbours shouting her to get out of the house. She went downstairs and saw that her lounge was on fire.

The victim escaped unharmed, but had to be treated for smoke inhalation along with two neighbours who tried to beat back the flames but were overcome with smoke.

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