Mentally-ill man set fire to his flat

A MENTALLY-ill man set his own home on fire after stopping taking his medication.

Having started the blaze, Elliott Kirby, 44, went to the home of a relative to make a 999 call to report the fire, in Bird Hill Road, Woodhouse Eaves, on Wednesday, June 17 last year.

The council flat fire caused extensive damage to the property, costing tens of thousands of pounds.

A couple who lived above the defendant’s flat were out at the time and no-one was hurt.

Kirby admitted arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, at Leicester Crown Court this week.

Gareth Gimson, prosecuting, said a few days prior to the incident neighbours had heard the defendant talking to himself about not being able to cope and saying he was going to set his home alight. They noticed he looked “unkempt” and “didn’t seem himself”.

On the day of the offence, in the early evening, Kirby, who suffers from paranoid schizophrenia and had not been taking his medication, used an accelerant to start the fire, having earlier inquired to check his upstairs neighbours would not be at home.

Judge Keith Raynor praised “public spirited” neighbours who “took steps to try to put the fire out” before the fire service attended.

Sentencing, he told Kirby he accepted he made a 999 call to report the matter, but the fire resulted in up to £30,000 of damage.

He said three psychiatrists agreed that he currently posed a high risk of harm to the public by further offending and should be detained for mental health treatment.

The court heard that alcohol consumption increased Kirby’s need for “close monitoring”.

James Smith-Wilds, mitigating, said Kirby expressed a wish to be treated in the community and although there had previously been concern about him not taking his medication, he now intended to comply with all requirements.

However, Judge Raynor disagreed with a community disposal, saying Kirby had a long history of poor engagement and non-compliance with mental health agencies.

He made a hospital order under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act with a Section 41 restriction order.