A Bournemouth butcher, Paul Armstrong, received a jail term for arson after setting his wifes Moordown cafe on fire following theft and stalking.
The prosecutor said Paul and his wife were married for sixteen years. She opened a business, and their marriage deteriorated. His wife planned a trip to Malaysia to see her family after eight years.
Paul then stole her passport and £7,000 in cash on January 30, 2024. He gave back the passport and some money later, thinking she would leave him for good. However, £3,500 is still missing, according to the prosecutor.
Paul stalked his wife from May to July. People saw him tamper with her car, and later, they found a tracker on it. On July 12, Paul broke into the café at 2 AM, using a copied key.
He stole three SD cards that held CCTV footage, but he later returned them. On July 23, he went back again, this time with a knife about six to eight inches long. His wife got scared and ran from the shop.
Paul chased her with the knife but stopped eventually, and she called the police. Around 1 AM on July 29, a woman living above heard noises and then a small explosion. The café was on fire.
She saw smoke and flames and left home, holding her breath to get past the fumes. The CCTV showed Paul pouring fuel and then setting the café on fire. His wife said he acted like a narcissist, taking her money and passport.
She did not expect it after sixteen years and added that the community supported her a lot. His lawyer said Paul owned a butcher shop and has always worked hard with a good record, leaving school early and working in butchery ever since.
Paul thought his wife had an affair and wanted to hurt her by damaging her café. He felt embarrassed and regretted his actions. While in jail, he is doing two jobs, helping other prisoners.
The judge said Paul’s actions came from jealousy, whether it was true or imagined. He stated that jealousy does not justify his crimes and that Paul’s burning was reckless.
The judge emphasized it could have killed the woman upstairs, who could have died in a horrible fire. Paul received three years and nine months in jail. He admitted to arson and other crimes, and he also received a seven-year restraining order.
The court seized £900 from Paul and ordered it split between the two victims.
