In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Nicholas Redgate, 27, was handed an additional 32-month prison sentence for starting a fire in his cell at a Warrington prison. On appearing at Liverpool Crown Court on Monday, 16 March 2026, the defendant—who was already serving a three-year term for child sex offences—admitted to a charge of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered. It was reported that Redgate, formerly of Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, used a vape to ignite bedding at HM Prison Risley on 6 September 2025.
The investigation established the “grim” and disruptive nature of the incident. Cheshire Police and the prison service reported that Redgate gathered items under his bed and used his vape to start a blaze in what he claimed was a bid to take his own life. The prosecution reported that when the fire alarm was triggered, Redgate “deceptively” told staff he had simply used his vape too close to a sensor, but the “reprehensible” reality was a fire that necessitated the evacuation of parts of the prison and the attendance of three fire engines.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Redgate showed a total “disregard” for the safety of other inmates and staff. Liverpool Crown Court heard that the “vile” arson caused nearly £5,000 in damage, including the destruction of a mattress, steel bed frame, and prison officers’ equipment. The investigation established that the blaze required bio-hazard cleaning and a full cell refurbishment. This occurred while Redgate was serving a sentence for “shamefully” grooming a 15-year-old girl, whom he had planned to “run off” with after likening her breasts to “pillows.”
Judge Charlotte Crangle noted that fires in prisons are “extremely dangerous” and risk creating serious disorder and violence. For his actions in Warrington, Redgate was sentenced to 32 months, to be served in addition to his current three-year term. The judge noted that Redgate has 14 previous convictions—all for “reprehensible” child-sex crimes and court order breaches—and that his “shameful” actions at Risley showed he had given no thought to the many people who worked and lived in the facility.
Status and Statutory Requirements
For the crimes reported in England, the status of Nicholas Redgate is as follows:
- Custodial Sentence: 32 months (Sentenced March 2026), consecutive to his existing 3-year term.
- Release Status: To serve up to half in custody before release on licence.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are active for life.
- SHPO Status: Indefinite Sexual Harm Prevention Order remains in place.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Liverpool Crown Court following a Cheshire Police investigation into the arson at HMP Risley.
- Criminal Record: Arson reckless as to whether life is endangered; Breach of SHPO; Grooming a child.
- Origin: Blurton, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Redgate is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) at a high level of scrutiny. Due to the nature of his conduct in Stoke-on-Trent and Warrington, which involved “monstrous” grooming and “reprehensible” arson in a secure environment, his management is a priority for the Public Protection Unit. Authorities state that his established “sexual interest in children” and his “shameful” history of ignoring court orders necessitate permanent digital forensic audits and strict residency checks upon any eventual release.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register for life, Redgate must comply with all notification requirements regarding his identity and residence. Authorities state that his history of “atrocious” and “vile” predatory behavior in Staffordshire necessitates permanent vigilance. Any future attempt to approach children, bypass internet monitoring, or engage in “reprehensible” disorderly conduct will result in immediate arrest and an instant return to the prison system to serve the remainder of his extended sentence.
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