An arsonist who set fire to a pair of trousers, causing flames and smoke to spread throughout every room of a charity-owned house, has been handed a hospital order.
27-year-old Damon Wilkins appeared before Judge Fitzherbert at Isle of Wight Crown Court earlier today (Tuesday) for sentencing, having previously admitted possession of a bladed article, assault by beating of an emergency worker and arson with intent to endanger life.
Prosecuting, Casey Chard, told the court that just after midnight on Saturday (21st September), residents on Ryde’s Bettesworth Road were awoken by a loud bang coming from a semi-detached property belonging to charity Mencap.
Neighbours left their homes to find smoke billowing from the property, prompting a 999 call to the fire service. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service appliances from Ryde and Newport were quickly dispatched to the scene. Firefighters wearing breathing apparatus used hose reel jets to bring the blaze under control, as previously reported by Island Echo.
Around 30 minutes after fire crews were called, Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary received a call from Wilkins, who claimed he was on Ryde Esplanade with a knife and intended to harm himself. Whilst on the phone, Wilkins admitted setting the property – which he was living in at the time – alight.
Officers detained Wilkins and located the knife in his shoe before taking him to Newport Police Station. Whilst in custody, the 27-year-old ‘donkey kicked’ a police officer. Thankfully, no lasting injuries were sustained.
When asked why he attacked the emergency worker, Wilkins simply replied: “I just did it.”
Investigations into the cause of the blaze determined that Wilkins had applied a naked flame to a combustible item of clothing – a pair of trousers.
Wilkins, who has 8 previous convictions, spent around 12 months on remand before being admitted to a specialist mental health centre in Oxford earlier this year.
Defending Wilkins, Jim Osborne, said his client has severe learning difficulties and is prone to making impulsive decisions. He added that Wilkins needed to remain in hospital until he is considered ready to be released into the community.
The court heard that 4 psychiatric reports had been completed, all noting Wilkins suffers from difficulty in understanding the consequences of his actions. One specialist said Wilkins’ offending behaviour lacked deliberate malice.
Judge Fitzherbert said he was “satisfied” that a hospital order was appropriate in this case and that, given the significant time Wilkins had spent on remand, a penal element to the sentence was not required.
Good luck Damo!