WATCH: Homeless man narrowly escapes as his tent is set on fire in Birmingham
This is the moment a homeless man’s tent was set on fire seconds before he managed to scramble free.
The dramatic footage shows Ian Gordon strolling up to the tent, which was pitched on grass off Carrs Lane in Birmingham city centre, before starting a number of fires around it.
The tent was engulfed in flames and destroyed in minutes, but the man inside was able to get out just in time. The victim was looked at by paramedics and treated for the effects of smoke inhalation.
Gordon, aged 51, of Sheldon Heath Road, Kitt’s Green, denied any involvement in police interview after being arrested the following night.
But he was remanded in custody and pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life.
This week Gordon was jailed for six years and six months at Birmingham Crown Court, and had his licence period extended by four years.
Detective constable Laurence Green, of Birmingham West local investigation team, said: “We still don’t know what the motivation for this was.
“Following the offence, a number of officers from the local neighbourhood team and CID walked around the city centre, speaking with members of the homeless community, not only to gather intelligence of the offence, but to reassure them.
“The offender was quickly identified from the excellent CCTV footage and was arrested from his home address.”
