CPS to decide on Crooked House prosecution after police complete investigation
Prosecutors to decide on arson charges at Britain’s wonkiest pub near Dudley
The decision on whether anyone will be charged in connection with the arson attack at The Crooked House pub is expected soon after Staffordshire Police completed its investigations.
The force has sent a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which will now decided whether any charges are to be brought.
Six people have been arrested in connection with the fire in August, 2023, which gutted the world-famous pub at Himley, near Dudley, but all have been released under investigation.
The 261-year-old former farmhouse, known as ‘Britain’s wonkiest pub’ because of subsidence which left the one side of the roof 4ft higher than the other, was severely damaged in a fire on August 5, 2023.
Two days later it was unlawfully demolished, and on August 9 Staffordshire Police announced the fire was being treated as arson.
On August 24, 2023, a 66-year-old man from Dudley and a 33-year-old man from Milton Keynes were arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life. On September 7, following the examination of CCTV evidence, a 51-year-old man from Buckingham was also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent to endanger life.
On September 27, 2023, a 34-year-old woman and a 44-year-old man, both from Leicestershire, were also arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered. On October 23, 2023, a sixth arrest was made, a 23-year-old man from Leicestershire, who was detained on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson with intent or being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
In a letter to Kingswinford and South Staffordshire MP Mike Wood, deputy chief Crown prosecutor for the West Midlands Ben Samples revealed that Staffordshire Police had completed its inquiries, and handed its files to the CPS in February.
The CPS is now considering the evidence.
“Given the complexity of this matter, careful consideration is required before a final decision can be made,” he said.
Mr Samples said the CPS would consider whether there was a realistic prospect of conviction for each of the six suspects, and whether such a prosecution would be in the public interest.
“The police have conducted a lengthy investigation, and there is a considerable volume of material to consider against several identified suspects.
“The CPS has sought clarification from the police in relation to aspects of the evidence. It is important that all available evidence is considered carefully and that the necessary legal internal decision-making processes are completed before any final charging decisions are reached.”
But Mr Samples said he was unable to give a timescale for a decision on the matter.
The fire at the Crooked House took place just nine days after former owner Marston’s sold the pub to A T E Farms, which was connected to the company which ran the neighbouring landfill site.
The pub was demolished - without planning consent and against the instructions of South Staffordshire Council - within 48 hours of the fire.
The council issued an enforcement notice requiring the pub to be rebuilt, but A T E Farms appealed, and the hearing was postponed until the criminal proceedings were completed.