Khamran Hayward, 23, of Great King Street, Newtown, was sentenced to 38 months and four weeks in prison at Birmingham Crown Court for arson and assaulting emergency workers. While under the influence of alcohol and drugs, Hayward verbally abused and spat at a paramedic and a police officer on the morning of 26 May 2024. He was already on bail for these offences when he deliberately set fire to a commercial bin near a mobile phone shop on 18 August. The fire rapidly spread to the shop premises in Hockley Street, causing the roof to collapse and resulting in a total loss valued at £950,000. Although no injuries were reported, the destruction caused severe financial strain on the shop owner, who has since incurred substantial debts, lost six employees due to funding issues, and faces ongoing anxiety about the future of the business. Prosecutor Ilana Davis described how the paramedic required hospital blood tests after being spat at, and how police officers were also victimised by Hayward’s behaviour. During sentencing, defence counsel Graham Blower highlighted Hayward’s earlier troubled behaviour, attributing it to drug and alcohol misuse amid personal difficulties. He noted Hayward’s remorse and significant rehabilitation while on remand, including undertaking work assisting the Ministry of Justice. Judge and court proceedings acknowledged Hayward’s transformation, describing him as having “turned a corner” since the incidents in 2024.