Life sentence for Underfall Yard arsonist

A serial arsonist has been jailed for life after admitting that he deliberately started the fire at Underfall Yard in May which caused damage expected to cost millions of pounds to repair.

Police said that “on another day, Robert Boyd-Stevenson could have seriously injured or killed someone”.

The 46-year-old of Headford Road in Knowle West had got a job as a maintenance manager at Underfall Yard just three days before he started the fire on the evening of May 5, using his work keys to let himself into the historic site.

Robert Boyd-Stevenson had only been working as a maintenance manager at Underfall Yard for three days when he started the fire – photo: Avon & Somerset police

Boyd-Stevenson pleaded guilty to one count of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered. He was handed a life sentence and must serve a minimum of six years in prison.

He was previously jailed for 14 years in 2004 after starting a fire in Bournemouth which killed a work colleague’s pet cats.

And he was also jailed for two-and-a-half years in 2016 for sending a bomb hoax to Bristol Airport.

Emergency services were called to Underfall Yard just after midnight on the morning of Saturday, May 6.

More than 20 people living on Avon Crescent, which backs onto the historic yard, were evacuated as a precaution due to the smoke.

The fire spread and destroyed buildings which housed several small business. Two privately-owned boats were also damaged, one of which sunk.

It is expected to take several years to repair the site, with Underfall Yard trustees saying they are “committed to rebuilding”.

Underfall Yard after the fire – photo: Avon & Somerset police

Boyd-Stevenson was sentenced on Monday at Bristol Crown Court, which was sitting in Bristol Magistrates’ Court.

Judge Martin Picton described Boyd-Stevenson as a dangerous individual based on his previous convictions, who must have known the fire he started had the potential to cause significant damage.

Detective sergeant Lisa Jones said: “The seriousness of the fire cannot be underestimated. On another day, Robert Boyd-Stevenson could have seriously injured or killed someone.

“A huge amount of resources had to be deployed by emergency services on the night in question to protect public safety and surrounding properties to stop the blaze spreading, all of which could have been spent tackling other incidents but for Boyd-Stevenson’s recklessness.

“We worked closely with fire investigators from the outset as well as those at Underfall and we were able to arrest the perpetrator within 24 hours, which is a testament to the hard work put in by officers during a busy bank holiday weekend.”

The fire at Underfall Yard seen from Vauxhall Bridge – photo: Martin Booth

DS Jones added: “While today sees the criminal proceedings come to a conclusion, it would be wrong not to highlight the ongoing financial and emotional distress that is felt by those people who have had decades of hard labour snatched away from them.

“As well as the damage to historic buildings of local and national heritage, many of them have lost irreplaceable prized possessions and it is sobering to hear the impact this crime has had on them.

“I would like to take this opportunity in thanking the local community of Underfall Yard, as well as the residents of Avon Crescent, for their patience and their strength in dealing with their personal loss and that of this city.”

Main photo & video: Martin Booth

Read next:

• Sadness across city following fire at Underfall Yard
• Underfall Yard: Brunel’s secret Bristol legacy
• Thekla donates £5000 to Underfall Yard in wake of fire

Listen to the latest Bristol24/7 Behind the Headlines podcast: