Arsonist who set fire to historic lightship caught by trainer footprints
An arsonist who started a fire which left a historic lightship extensively damaged was caught after his shoes matched prints near the scene.
Christopher Parker, 34, attacked the Light Vessel 18, moored at Harwich Quay, in Essex, after embarking on an arson spree across the town in February.
The 1958 vessel is unique, with its operational lantern activated several times a year to support quayside community activities and festivals in Harwich.
The total cost of damage to the boat was estimated at £250,000.
Meanwhile, separate fires damaging a van in Station Approach and the interior of Harwich Railway Museum were reported across the same evening.
Evidence by police identified a man wearing distinctive clothing, including a black Nike tracksuit, white trainers and a black puffer jacket.
The description matched the profile of Parker, of Alexandra Street, Harwich, who had been spoken to by officers near the scene in the aftermath of the LV18 fire.
Clothing was seized and matched that worn by the individual pictured in the CCTV footage.
But it was muddy shoes that proved to be the smoking gun. They matched prints taken from the scenes, including from a door at Harwich Railway Station and the area around the LV18 lightship.
He admitted three counts of arson and appeared for sentence at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, June 7. He was jailed for five years.
Judge Richard Wilkin told Parker it remained unclear why he had targeted the properties, with his actions causing “deep and long-lasting impact”.
Tony O’Neil, museum curator of the Pharos Trust, which owns and maintains the LV18, said: “Initially the shock of the incident was numbed by what we saw.
“To watch 24 years of my life go up in smoke was hard to watch. I had to watch as it took five hours to put it out and a further two hours to cool it down.
“The after-effects since then have been numbing on both me and my wife and to be able to cope under those circumstances with all the other things you have to deal with.
“I have worked on this project for the past 24 years with various grants and interest from the local council, the press and of course the people of Harwich.
“I would guess that around £600,000 has been provided in grants for the restoration project of the LV18 ship.
“So it’s not just my life work, it’s every single person and company that has supported the project in that time.
“That is going to stay with me for a long time. I can’t put it into words how much this project means to me or the community of Harwich and I just don’t understand what you have gained out of your actions.”
Detective Constable Ben Stammers, of Clacton CID, said: “Parker’s actions in starting these fires were utterly reckless.
“He has failed to offer an explanation for his actions, which makes the fact he caused such devastation to the Harwich community all the more concerning.
“His actions in setting these fires were purposeful – proved by the fact he used an accelerant to ensure they caught hold and caused significant damage.
“Right from the outset of this investigation, we knew we had to act fast to identify the person responsible and limit any further damage to property and risk to life in Harwich.
“Through our trawling of CCTV and forensic opportunities at the scene of the fires, including analysis of footprints and the clothing seized from Parker, we were able to irrefutably link him to these incidents.
“His actions have had a huge impact, in particular on a valued and irreplaceable community asset in the LV18 lightboat.
“While those who operate the boat will work tirelessly to see it restored, nothing will return the hours of hard work they have put into maintaining this piece of history.”
