Man jailed for arson attack in Wem near Whitchurch

Owen Grocott, 23, used petrol to deliberately start fires outside Kevin Paterson’s home in Wem during the early hours of August 21, 2025. At the time, Mr Paterson and two others were inside the property.

Shrewsbury Crown Court heard the occupants were watching television when Mr Paterson noticed a flash of light outside. He went out to investigate and found a fire burning under his window, which he managed to stamp out.

Owen Grocott was sentenced at Shrewsbury Crown Court on May 14. (Image: Google Street View)

But as he looked around, he discovered further fires in a bush and at a back gate. While trying to put those out, he stepped on a bottle containing petrol which squirted out, causing another fire.

Mr Paterson later told police he did not know Grocott.

Officers were able to identify Grocott from CCTV footage taken from neighbouring properties, which showed him starting the fires.

When police went to his home, they found him seriously injured after being hit with a bat and he was unconscious on the way to hospital. The court was told officers were also concerned about his “erratic” behaviour.

Grocott initially blamed a group for the attack but later accepted through his barrister it was “exactly what he deserved for what he’d done”.

Sentencing him on Thursday, May 14, Judge Trevor Meegan said the offence posed a serious risk to life.

He said: “You were motivated by a desire to send a message to the occupant whilst you were drunk and under the influence, with occupants inside at the time. You don’t need a judge to tell you that fire is unpredictable and inherently dangerous, and it can spread. Your actions caused a very real risk to life.”

The court heard Grocott carried out the attack after believing people at the address had been smoking crack cocaine in the presence of his partner and said he was trying to “teach them a lesson”.

In mitigation, his barrister Robert Edwards said he had no previous convictions and had shown genuine remorse. The court was told he has long-standing mental health issues and had only recently been diagnosed with ADHD, which impacted his behaviour and decision-making.

The barrister described the offence as “very unsophisticated and strange” and said Grocott struggled at school and grew up in a difficult environment.

Mr Edwards said the 23-year-old had since cut ties with a negative group of friends, was taking medication, and had begun to stabilise his life with the support of family.

Judge Meegan said he had taken into account Grocott’s previous good character, his remorse and the steps he had taken to improve his life, including his role as a father.

With a starting point of six years, the sentence was reduced to four-and-a-half years before being cut further to three years and four months because of his early guilty plea to arson with intent to endanger life.

Grocott, of Shrubbery Gardens, Wem, will serve part of the sentence in custody before being released on licence.