Arsonist ‘obsessed’ with pandemic restrictions jailed for setting fire to nightclub

Owen Marshall delivered a letter to Mayor Marvin Rees’ home claiming responsibility for the attack
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A man has been sentenced to six years in prison after setting fire to a Bristol nightclub in a bid to stop the introduction of Covid vaccine passports.

Owen Marshall, of Royate Hill, Greenbank, set fire to a petrol soaked towel and posted it through the letterbox of SWX in Nelson Street two months after threatening to do so in a letter to the club.

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Marshall, 29, also delivered a letter claiming responsibility for the arson attack to the home of Bristol Mayor, Marvin Rees, a day after the incident.

In the letter he said he intended to it to be a warning to other venues.

He later threw a brick through the window of the Barley Mow pub, in Barton Road, with a note attached claiming vaccine passports were a breach of human rights.

CCTV footage showing flames coming from the fire at SWX nightclubCCTV footage showing flames coming from the fire at SWX nightclub
CCTV footage showing flames coming from the fire at SWX nightclub

Then, on August 2 this year, nightclub Lakota in Upper York Street, received a handwritten saying it would ‘sustain substantial damage like SWX’ if it introduced Covid passports.

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As part of the investigation into these incidents, hundreds of hours of CCTV were reviewed by police and officers tracked the movements of a man they believed was involved.

After a public appeal, the man was subsequently identified as Marshall and he was arrested.

Picture of Marshall posting a petrol soaked towel through the letter box at SWX nightclubPicture of Marshall posting a petrol soaked towel through the letter box at SWX nightclub
Picture of Marshall posting a petrol soaked towel through the letter box at SWX nightclub

Marshall initially denied responsibility for the offences, but pleaded guilty to charges of arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered, criminal damage and making threats to cause criminal damage at Bristol Crown Court in September.

He was sentenced to six years in prison on Wednesday.

Speaking about the case, investigating officer PC David Stevenson said: “Owen Marshall’s actions were motivated by the completely misguided belief the venues he targeted were about to introduce Covid vaccine passports.

Owen Marshall was jailed for six years Owen Marshall was jailed for six years
Owen Marshall was jailed for six years
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“His obsession with Covid restrictions ultimately led him to carrying out the extremely reckless attack on SWX and it is only through sheer luck no one was physically harmed.”

He added: “Staff had been at the venue just hours before and they could easily still have been inside when he used an accelerant to start the fire.

“More than 130 fire service personnel were also put at risk tackling the resulting blaze which took several hours to extinguish.’’

Letter Marshall sent to the Barley Mow pubLetter Marshall sent to the Barley Mow pub
Letter Marshall sent to the Barley Mow pub

He added: “The attack has had a devastating impact on the club and the three businesses based below it with hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage and lost revenue caused.

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“These were businesses which had all suffered as result of the pandemic and which were looking forward to serving their community once more only for their livelihoods to again be put in jeopardy.

“While Marshall has never explained his actions, I am pleased he ultimately accepted responsibility as it negated the need for a trial.”