A man has admitted starting a fire at a flat in the Mid Harbour Estate which hospitalised five family members and killed their dog.

At the Supreme Court yesterday (12 February), Spanish national Juan Francisco Sanchez Valenzuela, 19, of Castellar, pleaded guilty to one count of Arson with Intent to Endanger Life.

The teenager will be sentenced on the 8th of April 2025, pending a psychiatric and pre-sentencing report.

The Royal Gibraltar Police, Gibraltar Fire and Rescue Services and the Gibraltar Ambulance Service were dispatched to the fire at Wave Crest House at around 4.20am on 10th of December 2024.

A number of residents were evacuated before the fire was extinguished.  

Sanchez Valenzuela was arrested and charged for court several hours after the arson – following an investigation by the RGP’s Criminal Investigation Department. 

The teenager was remanded at HM Prison Windmill Hill.