Neighbours threw cups of water on the blaze in an attempt to put it out
Gregg Pulford set fire to his girlfriend’s home(Image: Hull Live)
A scheming arsonist put the lives of his unsuspecting girlfriend and other people at serious risk after he started a fire at the house where she was living – and watched the flames take hold. Gregg Pulford tried to cover his tracks by pointing a laser pen torch at a CCTV camera in a carefully-planned bid to distort the pictures.
The fire was spotted by an eagle-eyed neighbour who “saw what was unfolding” and, within minutes, people tried to throw water on the flames, Hull Crown Court heard. Pulford, 31, of Green Lane, Barrow-upon-Humber, but recently in custody on remand, admitted arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, on September 27.
Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, prosecuting, said that Pulford went to the mid-terraced home of his girlfriend in De Grey Street, off Beverley Road, Hull, just before 6am and loitered outside. He used a laser pen torch in an attempt to distort pictures from CCTV outside the house.
He leaned against a neighbour’s fence, put a bag in the garden and continued to loiter and to try to distort the CCTV pictures. He went in front of a bay window near where a white car was parked.
The window was on the latch and Pulford started a fire, causing damage to blinds in the window. “He watched the fire take hold,” said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse.
“He was there loitering for approximately 30 minutes before leaving. A neighbour saw what was unfolding.” Damage was caused to the living room of the house. People tried to throw cups of water onto the fire to stop it.
“The fire brigade was called out to ensure the property was safe,” said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse. “The police were informed of the fire by a resident of a neighbouring property.
“All of the residents were inside at the time. The defendant was not allowed to be at the property. Inquiries were commenced.”
It was discovered that Pulford had been trying to contact his girlfriend by sending messages. She was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. The cost of redecorating the damaged living room was £424.
“There was a significant risk of serious physical harm,” said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse. “There was a significant degree of planning and premeditation, including using a laser pen torch to distort CCTV.”
Pulford was arrested on September 30. During interview at Clough Road police station, he made no comment to all questions. He had convictions for four previous offences, including criminal damage in September 2024.
David Godfrey, mitigating, said that the incident could have been “awful” for the people inside the house. “This is a serious offence,” said Mr Godfrey.
“It’s a stretch to say that there was a serious risk.” Pulford was in a “spiral” at the time but he was normally “a useful member of society, a caring guy, a thoughtful guy” and there were references for him.
Pulford was given a one-year suspended prison sentence, an 18-month exclusion order, a six-month monitoring order and 25 days’ rehabilitation. He must pay a £187 victims’ surcharge.
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