R v Philip Day
Mark Connor prosecuted a man who torched a school in Cheshire and has been jailed for 15 years with an extended licence period of five years.
A jury at Chester Crown Court found Philip Day guilty in February after a seven-week trial. His offences included setting fire to a house in Essex and the University of Chester Academy (UCAN) school in Northwich, as well as stalking the school’s headteacher and another teacher.
He was convicted of two counts of stalking, and one count each of arson and arson being reckless as to endanger life.
The judge also handed Day restraining orders, with those named in the document including UCAN staff, police officers, health professionals and council workers, as well as witnesses.
He must serve two-thirds of his custodial sentence before being considered for release.
Day, who defended himself in court, was described by Judge Simon Berkson as “an obsessive who has shown no shred of remorse.”
The case has been covered by the BBC, ITV News, The Daily Mirror, Birmingham Live and the Northwich Guardian.
