The man who raised the alarm the day David Blagdon set fire to a church's curtains and pews, said today he would have let him go if he had known he would get a life sentence.

Chris Moss, 55, founder of the Witney-based Wychwood Brewery, recalled the events of July 7, 1978, and said: "I saw smoke coming from the church and went over to see if I could help.

"This man came out and sat quietly on the steps while I called the fire brigade and the police.

"What he did was quite clearly a cry for help and I am disgusted that he has spent the past 20 years behind bars."

Yesterday, the Oxford Mail appealed to Home Secretary Jack Straw to intervene in the case of the 47-year-old, currently in Bullingdon Prison.

Mr Moss, of Bridge Street, Osney, Oxford, added: "Jack Straw should look at this case immediately because it is clearly not right that he is still in prison. "I feel quite upset that in a way I was responsible for his arrest.

"If I had known what was going to happen I would have told Mr Blagdon 'on your way, son'.

"Rapists and murderers serve less time than he has served and he should be freed immediately.

"When he gets out, there will be a pint of Wychwood Special waiting for him."

Kevin O'Gorman, Blagdon's solicitor, is now requesting a meeting with Lord Williams of Mostyn QC, the Home Office minister for prisons.

He said: "It appears that Lord Williams is familiar with David's case and a meeting would be the best way of moving things forward without further delay."

Blagdon set fire to the church shortly after the death of his step-parents.

Mr Straw has been given a copy of the Oxford Mail - to remind him that prisoner David Blagdon is still serving a life sentence for arson.

Blagdon was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1978 for setting fire to St Laurence's Church, South Hinksey, Oxford. The Parole Board is due to review the prisoner's case in November but the Home Secretary is being urged to act now.

To make sure he got the message, a copy of the paper was delivered personally to Mr Straw's home at Minster Lovell, near Witney.

Another copy was also sent to the Home Office in London, and political editor Bill Jacobs made it a hat-trick by delivering another copy to the Government building at Queen Anne's Gate.

Story date: Friday 05 February

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