Arsonist Jailed for Four Years After Fire Traps Mother and Children

Karen Rusted and her three children, Curtis, 10, Nathan, seven, and Bethany, two, had to fight through a raging fire to escape their home after 21-year-old Mark Eaton sparked a blaze outside their front door. The family was trapped inside, with all their belongings destroyed, including their Christmas presents. Karen, who is pregnant, said the incident has left her children traumatized and fearful of fire.

Key Takeaways:

• The fire was sparked by Mark Eaton, a 21-year-old who came to the family's home looking for a friend and, after being told to leave, waited until the family went to bed before starting the fire at 5am.
• The blaze caused £80,000 of damage and destroyed everything the family owned, including their Christmas presents.
• Karen and her children were trapped inside the house, and it was only the bravery of their friend Vicki Lee that allowed them to escape.
• The family has had to go through counseling and Nathan has seen a child psychologist due to the trauma caused by the fire.
• Eaton was jailed for four years after admitting arson and being reckless where a life would be endangered.
• The judge described Eaton's actions as "the most serious kind of reckless act" and said it was only by luck that no one was seriously hurt or killed.
• Karen said it's a relief that Eaton has been jailed, but they have never received an apology from him.

Statistics:

• £80,000: The estimated damage caused by the fire.
• 5am: The time when Eaton started the fire.
• Four years: The length of Eaton's jail sentence.
• Three: The number of children who were trapped inside the house with their mother.
• Five months: The amount of time the family had to live in temporary accommodation after the fire.
• 21: The age of Mark Eaton when he committed the arson attack.

Sources:

• "Arsonist who left family trapped in blazing home is jailed for four years" by Garry Willey and Amy Hunt, The Chronicle Live.