Pair who blamed child for causing flat fire jailed

Two people who blamed a child for causing a major fire and subsequent evacuation of a block of flats have been jailed.

Daniel and Charlotte Wollaston, of Goddard Court in Crewe, appeared at Chester Crown Court on Friday 8th August for sentencing.

Daniel was imprisoned for three years and will serve another three years on licence, while Charlotte was imprisoned for two years and will serve a further two on licence. Both were also sentenced to ten months imprisonment for perverting the course of justice, which will run concurrently.

The sentencing comes after the pair, 32 and 37, were found guilty of arson with reckless endangerment to life and perverting the course of justice following a nine-day trial.

The case began on Saturday 14th December 2024, when Cheshire Police were notified about at a fire in a block of flats in Nantwich by colleagues at Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service, with it being claimed that a child had started the blaze with a lighter.

Attending the scene on Laurel Place, Henhull, officers found that 12 flats in the block had been evacuated a number of residents displaced. Amongst the residents, who were now gathered outside the building whilst the blaze was being tackled, were Daniel and Charlotte Wollaston and a child, who had been in the address with them at the time of the incident.

Speaking to the pair officers were told that the child, that was known to Daniel and Charlotte, had used a long lighter to set fire to a pair of curtains. This fire had started in one of the bedrooms and quickly spread through the flat, causing substantial damage.

However, a witness reported to police that they had overheard an exchange between the pair in which Charlotte told Daniel that they would tell police it was the child who started the fire.

Daniel, Charlotte and the child were subsequently taken to Leighton Hospital for assessment and, whilst here, officers spoke to the child.

Initially the child told officers that she was responsible for the starting the fire but, upon being told she would not get in trouble if she told the truth, she disclosed it was actually started by Daniel.  

She went on to say that she had been in another room with Charlotte when Daniel came in and asked what she had done, stating the room she had been in earlier was “on fire”. The child reaffirmed to officers that she was not involved in starting the blaze, stating Daniel had used long reach lighter to set a pair of curtains alight.

Based on the information officers had collated, Daniel and Charlotte were arrested.

The pair were subsequently interviewed by Detectives, with Charlotte answering “no comment” to all questions posed to her and Daniel continuing to blame the child for the fire. He told officers that he and Charlotte were asleep when the child came into his room and told him the curtains were on fire, claiming that he must have mistakenly left the light in a place where the child could find it.

Further enquiries into the pairs mobile devices revealed that Charlotte had recently searched for house swap pages on social media.

Investigating detectives subsequently charged the pair shortly after, with them continuing to deny any involvement in the fire and entering a not guilty plea in court - triggering a trial for Friday 11 June.

Following the sentencing Detective Constable Joseph Scott, who was the lead officer in the case, said:

“Through their actions, Daniel and Charlotte have significantly damaged property and disrupted the lives of their neighbours. Their actions have endangered the lives of those in their community through the use of an uncontrollable fire and they have expressed no concern or remorse for what they have done.

“Furthermore, they have immediately attempted to portray the child involved in this case as their scapegoat, attempting to pin the fault on them and maintaining this lie throughout the following investigation and trial.

"Their actions were deplorable. I am pleased with the combined effort that has resulted in their convictions.”

Detective Sergeant Mitch Allford added:

“Daniel and Charlotte Wollaston’s selfish decision of choosing to start a fire in their home not only left them without a place to live and their possessions damaged or destroyed, but it resulted in the displacement of their neighbours and the diversion of countless police, fire and ambulance resources that had to respond to this completely avoidable incident.

“But what is perhaps most shocking however is that the pair decided to point the blame in the direction of an innocent child who was not involved in the fire’s ignition whatsoever.

“No child should be made a scapegoat for an adult’s irresponsible actions, and I am glad that the jury in this case were able to see through their lies and find them guilty for their crimes.

"This case should serve as a strong reminder of how serious these crimes are regarded and robust action will be taken against anyone who chooses to behave in such manner."

Pictured - Daniel and Charlotte Wollaston of Goddard Court in Crewe.