A man who deliberately tried to endanger life by setting fire to a block of flats has been jailed for four years and six months.

David John Ogle, 38, formerly of Exeter Road, Nottingham, pleaded guilty to two counts of assault and one count of arson reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

He was sentenced at Nottingham Crown Court today (Monday 14 May 2018).

Between February and August last year, Ogle carried out two attacks on a 46-year-old woman. On one occasion he kicked and punched her multiple times. The victim is believed to have sustained a broken nose during one of the attacks and now has difficulty breathing.

On 24 August 2017, at around 5.20am, the fire service was called to a flat in Rose Close, St Ann’s. The fire burnt out the flat and then threatened to engulf those nearby; the occupants of which had to flee through the flames, some suffering burns.

In total the fire service received 14 calls to attend that evening and, following an investigation, the cause of the fire was found to have been deliberate.

A bag had been left outside the first floor flat and set alight. Witnesses and CCTV placed Ogle at the scene walking towards the property carrying a bag and then walking away empty handed.

Detective Sergeant Luke Waller said: “Ogle is clearly a very violent man with complete disregard for the lives of others.

“The horror those residents were put through will stay with them for a long time after being woken in the middle of the night in fear, I hope they now have some relief knowing that this dangerous man is behind bars.”