Nedjo Osmanovic is in prison for arson. CCTV caught him setting fire to his flat on Chester Road.
Neighbors saw smoke and called the fire department. Luckily, nobody got hurt. The fire caused £8,000 in damages. Osmanovic’s lease holder gave police his information.
Osmanovic, age 35, received a prison sentence of three and a half years. He admitted to arson, acting recklessly and endangering lives.
A neighbor heard banging at 2 PM on June 21. They then smelled petrol and saw black smoke. They ran out and called for help. The lease holder reviewed CCTV and saw Osmanovic lighting and throwing something, causing instant flames.
The footage showed Osmanovic slamming the door and running downstairs and away. Black smoke poured from the flat immediately.
The fire totally wrecked the place, requiring area stripping, plasterboard and front door replacement. Damages totaled £5,000, and fixture and furnishing replacement cost £3,000 more.
Police arrested Osmanovic at a hospital one month later. He said he wanted to end his life. Experts verified petrol started the fire, but the risk to others was deemed ‘minimal’ due to alarms, sprinklers and fire doors.
His lawyer said there was minimal physical risk, although Osmanovic didn’t know this. She stated he wanted to kill himself as he faced psychiatric issues at the time.
The judge said Osmanovic lit a petrol-soaked towel, causing damage and risk. He said Osmanovic blames others and tends to get into arguments, connecting alcohol to worsened mental health.
Osmanovic, from Newbury Avenue, got his sentence of three and a half years in jail.