Hackney man jailed for life after antisemitic arson attack

Ian Pitkin. Photograph: Metropolitan Police

A man has been sentenced to life after deliberately starting a fire at his Hackney flat in an attack motivated by antisemitism.

Ian Pitkin, 64, set his ground-floor flat on Newick Road ablaze in March this year, forcing several neighbours to escape by jumping out of their windows – one of whom was left with a fractured hip.

One family had to drop their baby down to waiting relatives. The infant was checked by paramedics and was fortunate to come away unharmed.

In total, five people, including a passerby, were injured in the fire.

Pitkin was sentenced last Friday to life imprisonment with a minimum term of six years and 17 days.

He had pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to arson with intent to endanger life, four counts of possession of an imitation firearm with intent to cause fear or violence, and three counts of having an offensive weapon in a public place.

The aftermath. Photograph: Met Police

Officers were initially called to a fire at Pitkin’s flat at 12.45pm on 20 March, with paramedics and firefighters also in attendance.

The 64-year-old was arrested shortly after the incident while seeking medical attention for injuries he had sustained in the fire.

A search of his car threw up a number of jerry cans filled with petrol, as well as four air weapons, three knives and two hammers.

Hackney police chief, Detective Chief Superintendent James Conway, said: “Pitkin’s actions endangered the lives of his neighbours, who were forced to flee their homes in fear for their lives.

“Several victims were forced to jump from their windows and a family even had to throw their baby down to waiting relatives below.

“The damage to the building speaks for itself and it is remarkable that nobody was more seriously injured.

“However, the psychological impact was well evidenced through the victim impact statements submitted to court, with victims reporting hearing explosions as the fire took hold in the property below them.

“My officers have worked for many months to investigate the motive for this incident and gather evidence to explain Pitkin’s actions.

“This incident was pre-planned, rather than spontaneous, with Pitkin purchasing jerry cans and petrol in the week prior to the incident, in addition to having previously acquired numerous air pistols and bladed weapons.

“We believe the arson and planned action was linked to a housing dispute and Pitkin indicated a clear intention to harm others, beyond those injured in the fire, who were connected with that housing dispute.”

Conway added that “we were able to evidence the fact that he expressed clear antisemitic sentiment on several occasions, and the Crown Prosecution Service invited the court to treat racial and religious hostility as an aggravating factors”.

In his sentencing remarks, when considering the count of arson, His Honour Judge Fugallo said: “This offence was motivated by, and demonstrates, a hostility towards people of Jewish faith.”

Conway added: “We welcome this significant sentence which clearly reflects both the danger he posed and this aggravating factor.”