A TEENAGER who started fires in Fishponds and Stapleton, destroying cars and forcing a family out of their home, has been jailed.
Przemek Trojecki set fire to at least ten cars and damaged two houses in a series of arson attacks between April and September last year. Almost half of the incidents were in the same street – Oldbury Court Road.
He caused damage estimated at more than £150,000, and also caused a “profound impact” across the area, with community meetings held to discuss residents’ concerns and the police response.
Trojecki, who lived in Fishponds, was turned in by his mother after she recognised him in CCTV footage police shared with the media, including the Voice, last September.
He was sentenced to five years and three months in a young offenders’ institution this week after pleading guilty to two charges of arson while reckless as to whether life was endangered, six counts of arson on a vehicle and one count of criminal damage to a vehicle, relating to an incident where car tyres were slashed.
When he leaves prison Trojecki will be subject to an indefinite criminal behaviour order (CBO), banning him from carrying materials that could be used to start fires or going to the areas affected by his offending.
Breaching the order could result in him being given another jail term.
The first incident happened April 10 last year, when Trojecki set fire to a VW car fire parked on Oldbury Court Road. Nine days later another car, a Peugeot 208, was set on fire in the same road.
On April 27 Trojecki torched a car parked on Everest Road. He returned to set a car on fire in the same road on June 23, damaging another car parked nearby.
Trojecki admitted slashing the tyres on a car in River View, Stapleton, on the evening of July 6 last year – a night on which at least ten cars had their tyres slashed in that street as well as Everest Road in Fishponds and Frome Terrace on Blackberry Hill.
A week later he set a car on fire in Small Lane, off Blackberry Hill.
House caught fire as family slept inside
One of the most serious incidents happened at around 3.20am on August 30, when Trojecki set a car on fire in Oldbury Court Road and the flames spread to a nearby home, where a family with three young children were sleeping.
Police said at the time that the home had been left “uninhabitable” by the attack, and the family had to move into temporary accommodation.
They later issued a statement via the police, which said: “This mindless act of violence has not only deeply impacted our family physically but emotionally.”
Three weeks later, on September 22, Trojecki set fire to a car fire in Grove Avenue. The flames spread to another car parked nearby, and a home.
His final crime before being arrested on September 25 was to set a car on fire in Oldbury Court Road.
The same day, police released CCTV images of Trojecki, including video which showed his distinctive walk.
He was arrested the following day, after his mother recognised him in the images.
Trojecki’s phone was analysed after his arrest, and police found he had carried out multiple internet searches around the series of incidents.
He had also looked up sentencing guidelines for the offences he was committing, and the rules around the release of custody images by police.
Trojecki was also charged in connection with two other attempted arson incidents, in Oldbury Court Road on August 27 and nearby Perrymans Close on September 22. He did not admit the two charges and they were left to lie on court files.
Police said his early guilty plea was taken into account in the sentence, along with “vulnerabilities” including autism spectrum disorder, which had not been diagnosed at the time of the incidents.
‘Sheer luck’ consequences weren’t worse
Sentencing Trojecki at Bristol Crown Court, Recorder Daniel Pawson‑Pounds said he had placed people in “clear danger” and that it was “sheer luck” the consequences were not more serious.
He said Trojecki’s actions had caused widespread anxiety as well as taking up the time and resources of the fire service.
Afterwards Detective Sergeant Jeremy Cowburn said: “This series of arson attacks has had a profound impact on the victims and the wider community of Fishponds.
“The fires caused a significant amount of damage to people’s property but also made people fearful, which is totally unacceptable.
“Trojecki’s actions were reckless and could easily have caused serious injury.
“We have worked closely with Avon Fire and Rescue Service in response to these incidents and that collaborative approach has helped to secure these convictions.
“We are grateful to the victims and community for their support because we know it was a particularly difficult time for everyone while Trojecki was at large.
“We regularly issue public appeals for information and this case highlights the importance of someone coming forward to help us identify suspects, because without that individual – who knew Trojecki – contacting us, it’s highly likely more incidents would have occurred.”
Police ‘went above and beyond’
Frome Vale ward councillor Al Al-Maghrabi, who with fellow councillor Louis Martin organised meetings between the community and police, said: “I hope this outcome brings some reassurance that serious offences will be investigated and brought before the courts.
“I also hope it helps rebuild confidence in local policing: the officers went above and beyond and on the behalf of the community I would like to thank them for that.
“Thank you to the Bristol Neighbourhood Policing for their evidence gathering, patrols, clear communication and reassurance to residents throughout, and to the officers in Bristol CID who led a complex and lengthy investigation and secured the charges and conviction.
“Many of our officers worked endless hours of overtime monitoring the streets and keeping us all safe.”