Doncaster man jailed for hotel arson after fire endangers guests
A 32 year old man will serve a four and a half year term
A Doncaster man has been jailed for setting a fire inside a hotel in Balby, forcing the entire building to be evacuated.
Bradley Bennett, 32 and of Ridgill Avenue, will serve four-and-a-half years after the fire at the Holiday Inn Express on January 26.
He later pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.
The blaze saw swift action from Doncaster response officers PC Warren Crowcroft and PC Rowan Burnett who helped to evacuate the hotel before using extinguishers to tackle the flames.
Crowcroft used multiple fire extinguishers in an attempt to control the flames, displaying determination and bravery amidst the chaos.
Response Sergeant Hannah Cox of South Yorkshire Police said, "The actions of PC Crowcroft and PC Burnett epitomise what it means to be a response officer. Even when faced with danger, they didn't hesitate entering the building and ensured their main priority was to protect the public and keep them safe from harm."
She continued, "Given how quickly the fire took hold, the outcome could have been very different had it not been for their quick thinking and courage, and I am immensely proud of their actions."