Man Charged Over Southampton Arson

A Southampton man, Stephen Lang, 20, has been charged with arson with intent to endanger life after an arson attack on a Bannister Park home in the city in the early hours of Monday, September 17.

Petrol was poured through the letterbox of a house in Brighton Road, sometime between 12.40am and 1.40am. A smoke alarm woke a sleeping 27-year-old man. 

He found the staircase and hallway filled with smoke and spotted a small flame coming from a rag which had been pushed through the letterbox. 

The man put the flame out and rang the police who called the fire service.

Stephen Lang from Burgess Road, Southampton was arrested yesterday and has now been remanded in custody to appear before Southampton Magistrates tomorrow, Thursday, October 11.

Officers continue to identify witnesses to the incident and anyone who has not yet spoken to the police is asked to come forward. Anyone with information is asked to call Bitterne CID on 101 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.