Two found guilty of hostel arson
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Two men who set fire to Novas Scarman’s flagship hostel Arlington House are due to be sentenced for arson.
Stephen Coster, 29, and John Chaproniere, 39, were found guilty of arson recklessly endangering life at Blackfriars Crown Court last month. They will be sentenced on 16 and 23 February respectively.
In June 2008, the pair disabled the hostel’s fire alarm and climbed through a window to the staff office, where they started a fire.
A back-up alarm sounded, and the London Fire Brigade was able to put out the blaze, potentially saving the lives of 100 men asleep in the hostel at the time. When the police arrived at the scene, they arrested Mr Coster and Mr Chaproniere.
Detective Femi Omole of Camden Police said: ‘Arson is a serious offence and since attempts had been made to silence the fire alarms, the potential loss of life could have been horrendous. I am very pleased with the guilty findings.’
Arlington House was owned by Novas Scarman until it was transferred to One Housing Group last year.
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