THE judge who presided over Philip Day’s seven-week trial and sentencing says the convicted stalker and arsonist has shown no remorse for his actions.
Day was today handed a 20-year extended sentence, 15 of which are custodial and five on licence. He will serve two-thirds of his term before he is considered for release.
His Honour Judge Simon Berkson oversaw the trial where Day represented himself, and today sentenced him on the basis of a ‘serious risk’ of reoffending.
Day was also handed restraining orders, with those named in the document including UCAN staff, police officers, health professionals and council workers as well as witnesses.
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Judge Berkson told Day: “I was able to get a good impression of the man you are from the trial
“You have shown no shred of remorse. You were a man fixated on one concern which absorbed all of your energy and focus.”
The hearing today in Chester heard that Day had led an 'irrational and misguided' campaign against the school, its staff and other bodies via social media, which ‘may have changed the lives of those involved forever’.
The judge described the attack as a ‘meticulous’, ‘sophisticated’, and ‘well-planned’ attempt to destroy the school.
The attack was described one of ‘wanton destruction’, based off a ‘warped vendetta’.
He added: "This was not a quest for the truth, but a warped vendetta carried out without a thought as to how it might affect those directly impacted by it.
“Your motives were so very wrong, and the degree of destruction so very high.”
Speaking outside court, Ch Insp Simon Meegan – head of Northwich police at the time of Day’s campaign and the fire – thanked the Rudheath community for their vigilance.
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He said: “Philip Day undertook a protracted, malicious campaign of harassment and stalking which caused fear and distress to school staff pupils and the wider community.
“He knowingly allowed this fear to spread through the platform of social media and his claims to be protecting children actually caused them distress and disruption to their studies, with his actions finally ending with him setting fire to the school causing over £3m worth of damage.
“This sentence today reflects the gravity of that obsessive campaign and the fires where lives could so easily have been lost
“He has shown no remorse. He has been fixated in his righteous belief.
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“I would like to thank the community of Rudheath for standing up to this intimidation so that their children can now continue their education without fear or disruption.”
Mr Day, from Saltash Close in Runcorn, was found guilty by a jury in February following a seven-week trial.
His offences included setting fire to a house in Essex and UCAN school in Northwich, as well as stalking UCAN headteacher Cath Green and another teacher.
Following a 31-day trial at Chester Crown Court, he was convicted of two counts of stalking, the arson in Essex, and arson being reckless as to endanger life at UCAN, where the caretaker lived on site.
The court heard impact statements from the teachers involved, as well as other staff at the school – now Rudheath Senior Academy – and those affected by the fire in Essex.
Victims of Day’s crimes described themselves as ‘nervous’, ‘anxious’, and unable to sleep as a result of his ‘nasty and malicious’ crimes.
Cath Green, who stepped down as UCAN headteacher following the trial, said she fears Day may continue his campaign upon his release from prison.
Day’s previous convictions were also listed, including a string of thefts and burglaries stretching back to the 1970s as well as a criminal damage offence in 2008, whereby he smashed more than 140 windows on a building site after he alleged his car had received minor damage by a worker.
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Day has been in custody since his arrest on February 25, 2018 – the day of the UCAN fire.
He will serve two-thirds of his custodial period before being considered for parole.
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