Serial arsonist jailed for nearly six years

A man has been jailed for five years and 10 months for setting fire to two buildings containing flats.

The first of two separate incidents in Sudbury, Suffolk, saw six people taken to hospital for treatment for breathing in smoke.

Aaron Hubbard, 44, formerly of Minden Road in the town, was found guilty of arson at a trial in June 2024.

The sentencing hearing heard that a psychological report found Hubbard had been using cannabis and that could have had an impact on his behaviour.

Hubbard started the first fire on 9 March 2021 at Queensbury House on East Street - a building that had the Weavers Tap pub on the ground floor and flats above.

The court heard magazines were set alight in the ground floor lobby early in the morning.

Emergency services including fire fighters and ambulances attended.

Hubbard was seen on CCTV at the scene and prosecutors said about £32,000 worth of damage had been caused.

The second fire took place on 9 July 2023 at a ground floor flat on Minden Road.

An investigation found the front door was set alight after something was put through the letterbox.

No-one was inside the flat at the time of the fire.

Hubbard was again seen at the scene.

A psychological report, prepared after Hubbard was convicted, found no mental health issues.

His defence barrister said Hubbard had been "performing well in prison", where he had been since July 2023.

Jailing Hubbard, Judge Emma Peters told the defendant "there's nothing to suggest you checked" whether the flats were occupied before he started the fires and that he had "put those lives in danger".

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