A vigilante paedophile hunter faces jail after he burned down a school which he accused of being 'a playground for abusers'.
Philip Day, 55, of Runcorn, Cheshire, burned down a school he accused of being a 'playground for abusers'
Philip Day, 55, went on to the grounds of a Cheshire school armed with jerry cans full of petrol which he poured through the roof tiles in 17 locations, causing a roaring fire and £2.4million of damage.
A court heard how Day had become obsessed with University of Chester Academy Northwich which he believed was covering up sexual abuse.
After years of stalking the teachers, including the headmaster, his 'personal crusade' against the school led to what was described as one of the worst fires the area had ever seen.
Day, who represented himself during a six-week trial at Chester Crown Court, was yesterday found guilty of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, arson, and two counts of stalking.
He went on to the grounds of a Cheshire school armed with jerry cans full of petrol which he poured through the roof tiles in 17 locations, causing a roaring fire and £2.4million of damage
Day - who claimed in court that God would justify his actions - insisted there had been a cover up
The court heard that Day, 55, launched a personal crusade to 'protect children' in 2010 when he made unfounded allegations against a teacher.
He claimed that the school was a 'playground for paedophiles' yet, despite a thorough and extensive investigation by both the school and the police, no evidence at all was found to back this up.
An investigation was carried out by the Cheshire Police Public Protection Directorate, but the claims were never substantiated.
Day - who claimed in court that God would justify his actions - insisted there had been a cover up. Police said he then launched a 'personal crusade' in a bid to achieve his own justice.
Over the following years Day stalked school staff, specifically the headteacher and a teacher he claimed had sexually abused a pupil at the school.
He posted messages and videos on social media naming the teacher and falsely claimed that children had been harmed at the academy.
In one post he claimed the school was a 'playground for paedophiles' and named members of staff who he thought were involved.
A caretaker, who was sleeping in a flat on the site, suffered smoke inhalation when he discovered the blaze
No evidence was ever found to back up his claims. Day even warned parents against sending their children to the school when he turned up to two open days.
Then in February last year Day stepped up his campaign. He was questioned by police about the harassment of a teacher and the headteacher of UCAN, but the interview had to be stopped when Day became angry.
Just three days later, in the early hours of February 25, witnesses spotted a man carrying jerry cans at UCAN.
Day had set fires in 17 different locations at the school, including the roof. Police say he
