Moment man starts devastating house fire which robbed West Yorkshire family of a husband and daughter

Daniel Jones from Knottingley will spend 20 years behind bars after being sentenced yesterday (Nov 10) for causing the deaths of Andrew Broadhead, 42, and his eight-year-old daughter Kiera by starting a fire at their Ash Crescent family home on October 19, 2016.

Jones was sentenced at Leeds Crown Court after being found guilty by a jury last month of two charges of manslaughter and one count of burglary.

He received 19 years and six months each for the manslaughter offences and 12 months for the burglary. All sentences are to be served concurrently.

A 26-week suspended sentence was activated for breaching the terms of an unrelated theft offence in North Yorkshire.

The 29-year-old was arrested by police following a major investigation into the fire which shocked residents across Wakefield District and wider West Yorkshire.

It took place after Jones approached the front of the Broadhead’s house on Ash Crescent at about 4.20am on Wednesday October 19 and poured petrol through the letter box.

He then set fire to it, causing the blaze which Sara and her 12-year-old daughter were able to escape, but which tragically claimed the lives of Andrew and Kiera