R v Philip Day

February 20, 2019

Mark Connor and Zahra Baqri have successfully prosecuted a man charged with arson of a school in Northwich and for stalking two of its teachers.

Philip Day was found guilty of arson against the University of Chester Academy Northwich (UCAN) in Cheshire in February 2018 and of setting fire to a house in Essex in December 2017.

He was also guilty of two counts of stalking after waging a ‘campaign’ against the school, including making videos and Facebook posts over many months. During the same period he attended two school events which resulted in lockdowns and concerns for the safety of members of staff.

The trial lasted more than six weeks at Chester Crown Court with the jury of 10 reaching a unanimous verdict.

Day has been remanded in custody to be sentenced on 12 April.

The case has been covered by the BBCBBC North West Tonight (begins at 3.10), ITV GranadaLiverpool Echo and Northwich Guardian.