Two men have been sentenced to a combined total of over 12 years in prison for starting a fire at a block of flats in Gloucester that left the building uninhabitable. Kenneth Moore and John Johnstone were sentenced at Swindon Crown Court on 31 March 2026 for the arson attack, which took place on Bedford Street on 30 June 2025.
The pair used an accelerant to start the fire in the hallway of the residential building. The incident required an emergency response from the Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, who rescued residents from the flats. Two people were taken to hospital for smoke inhalation, and six residents in total suffered minor injuries during the evacuation.
During the sentencing, Judge James Townsend noted the significant planning involved in the attack, as well as the danger posed to those inside. Moore, 50, was described by the court as the primary instigator and was sentenced to seven years in prison. Johnstone, 57, received a sentence of five years and two months. The judge told Moore he represented a significant risk to the public, while noting that Johnstone had multiple opportunities to stop the attack before it began.
According to the Gloucestershire Police investigation, the fire could easily have resulted in multiple fatalities. Nine months after the incident, the damage to the flats remains extensive, and many residents are still unable to return to their homes. The building is managed by The Guinness Partnership.
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