Locations
Bolton, Greater Manchester
Description
An ex-hotel porter and child abuser who killed an elderly couple in a hotel arson attack has been jailed for life. The judge at Liverpool Crown Court described Lee Carson as an "extremely dangerous young man".
Carson, 24, of Bolton, Greater Manchester, was found guilty of manslaughter after the fire at the Moat House Hotel, Bolton, in April 2001.
William Robertson, 75 and his wife Margaret, 81, from Blackpool, Lancashire, both died in the fire.
Carson was caught after telling friends he started the blaze at the hotel, which was caused when he set fire to mattresses in a corridor.
The couple were on holiday when they died
The bodies of Mr Robertson and his wife were found in a corridor after the attack.
They both died from smoke inhalation.
An inquest jury returned a verdict of unlawful killing in September 2003.
Carson had denied starting the fire and pleaded not guilty to murder and two alternative charges of the manslaughter of Mr and Mrs Robertson.
In February a jury took just under four hours to find him guilty of the manslaughter of the couple but acquitted him of murder.
Convicted sex offender
Carson had previously been convicted of indecent assault on a 15-year-old girl in 1998.
He is currently serving four-and-a-half years for another indecent assault on a young girl in May 2002 and will serve at least 15 years after being given two life sentences for manslaughter.
Speaking outside court, Detective Chief Inspector Tony Cook from Greater Manchester Police, who led the investigation said: " We are pleased that a very dangerous man has been removed from the streets for a long time.
"Lee Carson admitted his involvement to those close to him yet he still refused to plead guilty.
"I hope that the victims and families of the victims involved in the fire will now be able to move on with their lives knowing that justice has today been served and that Lee Carson will have a long time in prison to reflect on his actions that tragic night."