Ex-partner jailed over house blaze

THE house in Woodleigh Road, Springhead, was gutted in the fire on New Year’s Day

A HERO commended for his bravery in helping to rescue victims of an earthquake in New Zealand has been jailed after burning down his ex-partner’s home.

Michael Kitson (36), broke into the semi-detached house in the early hours of New Year’s Day, high on alcohol and cocaine and accidentally caused the fire by dropping a cigarette.

Jailing him for four and a half years after he admitted arson, Judge Andrew Lowcock said it was accepted he hadn’t set the fire deliberately. But he added: “You were callously indifferent about what you did and the result was that the entire contents were destroyed. Your former partner and your son were left with only the clothes they stood up in.”

Kitson’s ex, Rebecca Higgins and their nine-year-old son were away for the night and returned to find the house, in Woodleigh Road, Springhead, had been gutted.

Rachel Shenton, prosecuting, told Manchester Crown Court Kitson, of Hillside Avenue, Grotton, said the alarm was raised shortly after 4am, when a passer-by saw smoke and flames coming from the house.

Kitson is believed to have got in at around 2am by smashing a kitchen window.

On New Year’s Day, Ms Higgins received two texts from Kitson: one which made no sense, and another saying “I’m sorry”. Later he admitted caused the fire and said he was handing himself in.

Richard Vardon, defending, said his client had been “devastated” at the consequences of his actions.

He said: “This is an extraordinary case. Mr Kitson has an extremely good work ethic, earned good money and travelled the world in his job. Now he has lost everything.”

He said Kitson had gone out on New Year’s Eve and had drunk “far more than was good for him”, as well as taking cocaine. He had passed the house in Woodleigh Road in the early hours, saw lights on but received no response to a knock, so became concerned.