CCTV shows shocking moment Sheffield gang member firebombs great gran's home with her inside before fleeing
The 78-year-old was left trapped inside
This was the shocking moment a gang member firebombed a great gran’s home with her inside.
The 78-year-old was left trapped inside as the flames spread rapidly, ripping her through her family home of three decades and destroying everything she owned.
If it had not been for the prompt arrival of the fire service at the scene of the blaze on Oxford Street, Upperthorpe, the victim is likely to have lost her life.
That was the conclusion of Judge Charles Thomas as he jailed Samuel Moffett, 37, and Callum Walters, 32, - the two gang members responsible for the arson attack - for a combined total of 20 years yesterday.
Moffett carried out the firebombing, while Walters - the gang member who ordered and planned it - waited in a parked car a short distance away, in the company of a third gang member.
This shocking CCTV footage captures callous Moffett as he starts the fire, before sprinting away.
It begins showing Moffett, dressed in dark clothing with his hood up, approach the site of the blaze.
He nonchalantly walks past, before coming back on himself seconds later, and walking towards the victim’s property with his hands in his pockets.
Moffett takes a rucksack off his back, before reaching inside, taking something out and putting it on the ground, before putting the bag back on.
He goes towards the front door, out of view, and then moves to the adjoining front porch, with his back to the camera.
Flames can be seen flickering from the porch, as smoke begins to rise. Moffett returns to the front door once more, as a huge flash shows the blaze take hold.
Moffett then sprints down the drive, on to the pavement and out of sight.
Both Walters and Moffett, formerly of Norfolk Park Road, Norfolk Park, denied arson, but were convicted at the conclusion of a trial at the same court.
Jurors convicted Walters of the more serious charge of arson with intent to endanger life, while Moffett was found guilty of arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Prosecutor Gordon Stables said Walters and Moffett are members of a drug gang, which, at the time of the blaze in November 2024, were said to be having “issues with a rival group.”
He told the court that the complainant’s grandson - who, on occasion, had lived with her at her Oxford Street home - was said to be linked to the rival group.
Jailing Walters for 12 years, with a three-year extended licence period, Judge Thomas told him: “You were prepared to order the arson of a home that endangered the life of a vulnerable elderly woman...to further the interests of an organised crime group.”
He jailed Moffett for eight years, and also made him the subject of a three-year extended licence period.
Judge Thomas noted Moffett’s evidence that he had been told the property was empty when he set the fire.
He concluded, however, that given the blaze was started at 8.37pm - a time of night when there was a high chance of people being home - and the fact that the lights were on in several of the adjoining properties, Moffett should have been aware of the risk.
Judge Thomas said Moffett should also have known not to trust the suggestion no-one was home, because the victim’s home had not been monitored and it came from someone who had spent the day drug dealing.