Police officer thought arsonist's threats were empty before fatal fire-bombing

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 12 Oct, 17:32 · Archive

A police officer thought threats by Zak Bolland were 'empty' when called to Michelle Pearson's home hours before he firebombed it, killing her and four children.

Police officer PC Gemma Quinn responded to a 999 call from Michelle Pearson at around 12:45am on 11 December 2017 after Zak Bolland and others turned up at her Walkden home. Bolland threatened to break her then 16-year-old son's jaw and said he would 'boot the door off and do your house'. Quinn told an inquest at Bolton Coroner's Court that she thought the threats were 'empty' and did not believe it necessary to arrest Bolland 'there and then'.

Quinn said she planned to arrest Bolland two days later when she was next on shift. Less than three hours after the 999 call, Bolland and David Worrall firebombed the property at around 5am on 11 December 2017. The fire killed four of Pearson's children: Demi, 15; Brandon, eight; Lacie, seven; and Lia, three. Michelle Pearson died from her injuries 20 months later in August 2019. Both men were later convicted of murder; Bolland was sentenced to life with a minimum of 40 years and Worrall to life with a minimum of 37 years.

Testifying at the inquest, Quinn said: 'I carry the guilt every day. Never in my wildest dreams did I think this would happen.' The BBC reports that Quinn has not done front-line policing since the incident.

How it is being reported

• PC thought murderer was making 'empty threats' before arson attackPC Gemma Quinn did not think it necessary to arrest Zak Bolland after Michelle Pearson's 999 call.BBC Manchester · 12 Oct, 17:18
• Police officer on 999 call hours before tragic Walkden fire-bombing thought killer's threats were 'empty', court toldA GMP officer who responded to a 999 call made by Michelle Pearson has told an inquest she and a colleague intended to try and arrest Zak Bolland two days later as she 'didn't think it needed to be done immediately'Manchester Evening News · 12 Oct, 15:00

In this story: Michelle Pearson · Zak Bolland · David Worrall · Walkden · Salford · Greater Manchester Police

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