Arsonist appeared unfazed by blaze
AMAN who deliberately started a fire in a block of flats was seen on his balcony seemingly unconcerned about the blaze, a court has heard.
Arsonist Paul Simpson, 41, started the fire in his own flat on Lumley Road, Macclesfield, shortly before midnight on October 12, 2018.
Chester Crown Court heard that luckily a neighbour looked out of her window and saw what she first thought was mist before quickly realising the building was on fire and calling the emergency services.
Prosecutor John Oakes told the court that the block of flats contained 18 apartments owned by housing association Cheshire Peaks and Plains and many of those living there were elderly or had ‘vulnerabilities’.
He said: “One witness evacuating the building saw the defendant in the communal hallway outside his flat rolling a cigarette in a completely calm way despite the thick smoke emerging from his door.
“Another witness across the road told police the defendant could be seen on his balcony appearing not to be bothered by the fire.
“When asked by a neighbour what was happening he replied ‘ my room is on fire’.”
Mr Oakes said that an investigation had concluded the fire had been deliberately set using either a lighter or matches.”
The total damage caused by the fire was around £6,000 and there were no reported injuries.
The court heard that Simpson had 14 previous convictions for 54 offences, many of them violent but had never before been convicted of arson.
Simpson, who last year pleaded guilty to arson, is a diagnosed schizophrenic and has been detained in a secure hospital since his arrest in October 2018.
Defending solicitor Julian Farley directed judge Nicholas Woodward to various medical reports which identified the chronic mental illness of his client.
He said Simpson had become paranoid on the evening in question and had been suffering from hallucinations when he started the fire.
He maintained that the medical consensus was that his client needed continuing treatment in hospital.
Sentencing, Judge Woodward said he believed in his current condition Simpson was a significant risk to the public.
He said: “This is not a case where you can be released into the community.
“You need to remain in a secure hospital and will only be released when safe to do so.”
He imposed an indefinite hospital order with restrictions meaning he will only be released by those delegated by the Secretary of State.