Nesters Market arson suspect pleads guilty to lesser charge

A Vancouver man has pleaded guilty to a lesser charge in connection with a fire that caused significant damage to a Nesters Market grocery store. Victor Leslie Atkinson, 50, admitted to arson to property on Monday, a reduced charge from the original arson in relation to inhabited property and theft under $5,000.

The March 30 fire at the Nesters Market Woodwards location, the sole full-service grocery store in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside, resulted in damages exceeding $500,000, including substantial food losses. The store was forced to close for two weeks for repairs and restocking, reopening on April 13.

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The gentleman walked in, he walked down by the bathroom aisle, lit it on fire, turned the corner, grabbed some items and walked out the door.

According to Pattison Food Group president Jamie Nelson, Atkinson entered the store, set a fire in the bathroom aisle, took some items, and then left. Store security managed to quickly extinguish the small blaze. Nelson highlighted the ongoing challenges Nesters Market faces in the Woodwards building, citing an over 118 percent increase in retail crime and violence in the past two years, leading the company to quadruple its security services at that location.

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We've quadrupled our security service in that location. We have more security in that location than any store in our chain.

Atkinson, who was arrested in Gastown and listed a hotel as his address, has an extensive criminal record in British Columbia dating back to 2000. He has been convicted of theft 15 times and has had approximately 200 interactions with Vancouver police over the past 25 years. Chief Const. Steve Rai expressed frustration with individuals like Atkinson, stating the desire to help them while acknowledging the cyclical nature of their offenses.

Atkinson is currently in custody, having been denied bail. His court appearance on June 18 is scheduled to set a date for his sentencing hearing. Pattison Food Group recently renewed its lease for the Nesters Market Woodwards location, opting to give the store another chance despite the difficulties.

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We want to get people like this help; they're in and out, but 200 interactions going back 25 years, you know, it's frustrating.