Man who torched school bus on arson spree is jailed

Peter Towers admitted setting three deliberate fires in the space of eight hours

An arsonist who started three fires in eight hours, including torching a school bus, has been jailed.

Peter Towers pleaded guilty to three counts of arson, and admitted charges of criminal damage and having an offensive weapon.

Now, Towers, from Rosemary Crescent in Winsford, has been jailed for 10 years at Chester Crown Court. On Sunday 4 August 2024, during the far-right disturbances that swept across the UK, Cheshire Police were alerted to three intentional fires that had been started in Winsford between 3pm and 11pm.

These incidents occurred on High Street, Queensway, and Ford Court.

Eyewitnesses reporting the fires described seeing two men, fitting the descriptions of 31-year-old Towers and Joshua Sigley, reports Cheshire Live.

The fire on High Street was started using rubbish placed on the ground and a green jerrycan filled with petrol.

CCTV footage from a petrol station showed Towers arriving on a bike, filling a green jerrycan with petrol, and making payment.

Dashcam footage then captured Towers meeting with 25-year-old Sigley just minutes later.

On Queensway, a school bus was completely destroyed after being set alight, resulting in £70,000 worth of damage.

Two men matching Sigley and Towers’ description were then spotted attempting to set fire to trees near to Ford Court.

Both men were subsequently arrested at an address in Winsford on Sunday 4 August 2024 and later charged.

Sigley, from St Chads Fields in Winsford, was jailed for three-years in June after confessing to three counts of arson.

Detective Inspector Ross Hamilton stated: “Sigley and Towers’ actions were incredibly dangerous, fuelled by the national disorder last summer, and could easily have ended up injuring someone, or even worse.

“To target a school bus and cause £70,000 worth of damage is shocking.

“This 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 this manner.”
Liverpool Echo