A man who set fire to a house in Faversham while two people were sleeping upstairs has been sentenced to life in prison. Duncan Hornby, 60, was convicted of attempted murder and arson after pouring petrol throughout the property and setting it ablaze in the early hours of Thursday, 6 July 2023.
The victims, who were sleeping upstairs, woke to find the house engulfed in flames and were forced to jump from the first floor to escape. After fleeing the fire, they encountered Hornby in the back garden. With the help of neighbours, they were taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.
Following the incident, Hornby disappeared from the scene, prompting a search by emergency services. He was discovered the next day hiding in a bird hut in woodland near Oare, Faversham, and was arrested. He was later charged with attempted murder and arson with intent to endanger life.
Although Hornby admitted to arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered in relation to neighbouring homes, he denied the attempted murder charges. His trial commenced on 15 January 2024, and he was ultimately found guilty of attempted murder by a jury.
At his sentencing at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday, 7 September, Hornby was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 20 years before he becomes eligible for parole.
Detective Inspector Lee Neiles, the senior investigating officer, condemned Hornby’s actions: “Hornby behaved in a calculated and evil manner that night, which resulted in a serious house fire in which two people could have easily lost their lives. He fled the fire afterwards, rather than face the consequences of his actions, and continued to deny the charges. This meant the victims were put through the ordeal of a trial where all the details were replayed to the court.
Neiles added, “He must now face a lengthy prison sentence which reflects the seriousness of this crime.
The victims have since been released from the hospital, and their condition has improved, although they continue to recover from the trauma of the event.
