A man who deliberately started a fire to eliminate drug-related evidence, causing £1.8 million in damages, has been sentenced to 13 years in prison.
Charlie Martinson, 34, of Grays, Essex, ignited the blaze at a car recovery site in Eaton Socon, Cambridgeshire, at 5:30 AM on February 24, 2023. The fire destroyed a van containing £500,000 worth of cannabis and 28 other vehicles, some of which were critical to police investigations.
Investigators revealed that the fire was deliberately set in or near a Luton van, which had been seized following a robbery in Huntingdon the night before. Cambridgeshire Police confirmed that the yard housed impounded vehicles tied to serious cases, including attempted murder, burglaries, and robbery.
Authorities established that the fire was an intentional effort to eliminate both the van and its concealed drugs. CCTV footage captured Martinson and accomplices breaking into the site, while forensic analysis linked him to the petrol container used to ignite the inferno.
At Cambridge Crown Court, Martinson was found guilty of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered. Judge Philip Grey condemned the act as “organised, brazen criminality” and a “determined attempt to destroy evidence.” Alongside his 13-year sentence, Martinson will serve an additional four years on licence.
The sheer scale of the fire caused the roof to partially collapse and resulted in enormous structural damage,” she stated. “A total of 29 vehicles were completely destroyed, including nine awaiting examination for serious and fatal collisions. This means some families may never get justice for their lost loved ones.
The destruction also erased crucial evidence from an attempted murder case and an ongoing burglary investigation.
The owner of the vehicle recovery business, who had built the company over 23 years, was left devastated. Still grappling with financial losses, he estimated damages exceeding £1.8 million. Martinson’s reckless actions not only obstructed justice but also inflicted long-term economic damage on a hardworking business owner.
