A man who fell from the roof while trying to save his family from a devastating Aberystwyth hotel fire has hit out at the sentence given to arsonist Damion Harris.

Richard Simnett had been staying at T? Belgrave with his partner and their then four and five-year-old sons when the fire broke out in the early hours of 25 July last year.

Harris, 31, was jailed at Swansea Crown Court last month for 16 years after he admitted manslaughter, arson and inflicting grievous bodily harm.

Speaking to the Cambrian News, Richard, who broke his back, sternum, right arm, right collar bone, seven ribs and damaged his knee in the fall, said: “Regarding the sentence, I have split feelings.

“It’s given us a bit of closure but the effects and stress of the fire are still being felt.

“I would have liked to have seen a longer sentence. Hearing all the statements in court and the effect it had on so many people, and the amount of damage that was done, it was pretty extensive.

“At least he got a decent, lengthy sentence, but I’m disappointed it wasn’t longer.”

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