Hastings Man Sentenced Over East Sussex Arson Attacks

A Hastings man has been jailed for setting two properties on fire in East Sussex.

Alex Reynolds was sentenced to a total of nine years and three months’ imprisonment when he appeared before Lewes Crown Court on Friday, 13 September for his involvement in two fires.

Police were called to a report of a property which had been set on fire in St Marks Close, Bexhill shortly before 10pm on 13 November 2023. This caused significant damage to the property.

Reynolds was arrested and released under investigation.

On 19 March 2024, officers received a call that a property in Theaklen Drive, St Leonards was on fire.

It was deemed suspicious, and Reynolds was located near the property and was arrested.

After an investigation which proved Reynolds was at the address in Bexhill at the time of the arson, he was charged with arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered. He pleaded guilty on 17 May at Lewes Crown Court.

DNA was found at the property in St Leonards and he was then charged with arson. He pleaded guilty on 17 July at Brighton Magistrates’ Court.

The judge sentenced Reynolds, 27, of Edmund Road, Hastings to six years and three months’ imprisonment.

At sentencing, the judge determined that Reynolds should be subject to a three-year extended sentence. This is used when an offender is deemed to be dangerous that an extended licence period is required to protect the public from risk of serious harm.

It was extended to nine years and three months. 

Detective Sergeant Chris Milner said:

“This is a really significant sentence and is truly justified in the circumstances.

“Reynolds is a serial arsonist who was escalating his offending to the point that he was risking the lives of others and causing significant damage. I am glad we can bring justice to the victims.

“He is now behind bars for a long time and this shows Sussex Police’s commitment to tackling offenders.

“I would like to thank all those that were involved in the investigation, from those that initially attended, the officers that were on a protracted scene guard, the Crime Scene Investigators and all those that work behind the scenes to help investigate these offences and build the files for court.”