Haywards Heath Arsonist Jailed After KFC Toilet Fire

A man who started fires at a KFC restaurant in Haywards Heath has been sentenced to prison.

Alan Burren, 48, twice set fires in the restaurant’s toilets, leaving a member of the public engulfed in smoke.

He also caused damage to furniture at the nearby Premier Inn hotel.

Footage showed Burren starting the fires without raising the alarm, putting lives at risk, according to Detective Inspector Lee Simmonds from Crawley CID.

Burren, formerly of America Lane, Haywards Heath, admitted two counts of arson and one of criminal damage at Lewes Crown Court on 25 July.

He was sentenced to one year and eight months in prison.

The court heard that the first incident took place on 3 November last year. CCTV showed Burren entering the KFC and heading straight to the toilets, before leaving without alerting staff.

On 5 January this year, he caused damage to a Premier Inn room on Perrymount Road, including marking mirrors and sofas with a permanent marker and cutting furniture.

He returned to KFC on 10 March, setting another fire in the toilets that was discovered by a member of the public. Officers later found Burren near Clair Park.

Detectives from Crawley CID linked him to both KFC fires and charged him with arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, plus criminal damage.

He was also found in possession of cocaine, for which he was convicted in a separate hearing in June.

Det Insp Simmonds said:

“Burren’s actions put other people at risk and caused a great deal of concern in the community.

"CCTV and forensic enquiries left him with no choice but to plead guilty.

"We are pleased that a potentially dangerous man is now serving a custodial sentence.”