A man has been jailed for setting fire to a van parked near a Bridlington nursery, in an incident that shocked the local community and put lives at risk. Ben Dobson, 38, of no fixed abode, appeared at Hull Crown Court last Friday (31st October) and was sentenced to one year and two months behind bars after pleading guilty to arson, assaulting an emergency worker, and possession of a bladed article.

The fire broke out on Thursday, 10th July, when a white Ford Transit van was found ablaze on Blenheim Road, just metres from a nursery. Humberside Fire and Rescue swiftly extinguished the flames, and police launched an immediate investigation, conducting house-to-house enquiries and reviewing CCTV footage.

A tip-off from a member of the public identified the suspect as “Dobby,” later confirmed to be Dobson. Officers spotted him nearby and arrested him on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. During the arrest, Dobson became aggressive, threatened to spit at officers, and assaulted a constable. A Stanley knife was found in his pocket, leading to further charges.

While in custody, Dobson denied involvement in the fire and refused to comment on the knife or assault. However, CCTV footage showed him walking along Quay Road towards Blenheim Road, setting the van alight, and fleeing the scene.

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Ian Foster condemned Dobson’s actions, saying: “Dobson knowingly set the van alight without a second thought as to whether the person he knew was living in it was inside at the time… He had absolutely no regard for the fact he started a fire adjacent to a nursery which could have very easily ended in disaster.”

The blaze caused around £800 worth of damage to the nursery’s fence and thousands of pounds of damage to the van, which was being used as someone’s home.

Inspector Foster added that carrying a knife “can and does have devastating consequences” and praised the swift response of emergency services for containing the fire and preventing further harm.