Former Firefighter Jailed For Arson
25 November 2013, 16:21 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50
A former firefighter from Wigan has been jailed for 5 years for his part in an arson plot.
Anthony Murray pleaded guilty at Liverpool Crown Court to making a hoax call to the fire service about a serious accident that forced all staff at Skelmersdale to leave their station.
It was then his friend Gareth Collier set fire to his £47,000 BMW in the car park, so Murray could claim the insurance money.
Murray was suspended from Lancashire Fire Service when an investigation got underway and has now been sacked
DC Adam Burke from Lancashire Police: “We are pleased with the result. To put members of the public at risk by making a hoax call to the fire station to ensure the station was empty, whilst Collier set fire to Murray’s car is not only dangerous but completely unacceptable. He did all of this for money. He put lives at risk leaving West Lancashire vulnerable."
Bob Warren from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service added: "We are appalled by the criminal actions of a man who although working within a service having the core duty to protect lives and property from fire, committed arson in an attempt to defraud insurance companies."
