Shocking Footage Shows Homeless Man's Tent Set Ablaze While He Sleeps
Birmingham, West Midlands – A brutal attack on a homeless man caught on camera has left the city stunned. Dramatic video footage reveals the harrowing moment Ian Gordon set fire to a tent with a man trapped inside, just seconds before the victim managed to escape.
Blaze Erupts Minutes After Fiery Attack
The chilling scenes show Gordon casually approaching the tent pitched on grass off Carrs Lane in Birmingham city centre. Without hesitation, he lit several fires around the shelter, quickly engulfing the tent in flames. The homeless man inside was lucky to flee before being trapped or badly injured.
Quick Police Work Leads to Arrest
Authorities shared the footage via an internal police briefing system. A PC instantly recognised Gordon, who was arrested from his home on Heath Road, Kitt’s Green, the night after the incident on 21 June.
The 51-year-old denied involvement at first but later pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life. He was sentenced to six and a half years behind bars, with an additional four years added to his licence period.
Victim Treated for Smoke Inhalation
Paramedics attended to the victim, who suffered smoke inhalation but escaped serious harm. Detective Constable Laurence from Birmingham West’s investigation team said:
“We still don’t know the motive behind this vicious attack. Following the incident, our officers engaged with the local homeless community to gather intelligence and offer reassurance.”
He praised the excellent CCTV footage that played a crucial role in identifying and capturing the culprit quickly.
