Miller

The actus reus of the offence of arson, contrary to s 1(1) and (3)^a of the Criminal Damage Act 1971, is present if the defendant accidentally starts a fire and thereafter, intending to destroy or damage property belonging to another or being reckless whether any such property would be destroyed or damaged, fails to take any steps to extinguish the fire or prevent damage to such property by that fire (see p 981 d to f, p 982 f to j, and p 983 j to p 984 b, post).