Arsonist set fire to same barn twice
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Your support makes all the difference.A FARM WORKER was given his second life sentence yesterday for burning down the same farm he set fire to 23 years ago.
The judge, Mr Justice Tucker, criticised people who had petitioned for Maurice Bland to be freed from his first life sentence imposed in 1970 - and said 'this time life should mean life'. Bland carried out the second attack while on a day out from prison.
Bland, 57, still had a fixation that he was axed from the will of his boss's wife, Sheffield Crown Court was told. Bland admitted arson and being reckless as to whether the lives of farmer Geoffrey Graham, his wife Susan and their two sons would be endangered.
The judge told Bland: 'You have a fixed grudge against this family for no reason at all. Whilst you are at liberty they are in danger.'
Andrew Dallas, for the prosecution, said Bland was jailed for life at Leeds in 1970 for burning down the same buildings at Low Demaines Farm, Littlethorpe, near Ripon, North Yorkshire.
In 1965 Edward Graham's wife died and Bland got it into his head that she had made a will leaving him some money, but that this will had been burned, Mr Dallas said.
Between then and 1970 Bland vented his anger, culminating with him burning down the barn and being jailed for life for arson.
Mr Dallas added: 'Since then he has sent numerous letters from jail to the Graham family with threats - transferring his anger from Edward Graham to his son Geoffrey.'
The case became a cause celebre and people including MPs and Bland's family campaigned for his release.
Bland, serving his sentence at Rudgate Prison, near Weth erby, was let out for the day last October to go shopping in Leeds. But he went to the farm and started a fire, causing more than pounds 30,000 of damage.
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