Torpoint man who doused himself in petrol is charged with arson

Police have charged a man from Torpoint following his arrest on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

James Gutteridge, 49, from St John, Torpoint has been charged with arson and is due to appear before Bodmin Magistrates Court this morning (Tuesday 25 June) at 10am.

Devon & Cornwall Police reported receiving a call from the fire service shortly before 3am on Monday 24 June, with a report that a man in Torpoint had doused himself in petrol.

On arrival at the scene, police say they found a man holding a petrol can and the property from the outside smelt strongly of petrol.

Police and fire services then attempted to engage with the man, who began setting fire to items within the house.

Police report that the fire service then took action and flooded the house with water and gained entry.

The fire was quickly extinguished and the man was stopped from doing further harm.

There were three dogs in the property at the time, though the man had earlier released them into the garden.

A police spokesman said: “Fire service colleagues and police response officers were working under tremendously challenging conditions and decisive quick thinking probably saved this man’s life.”