ARSONIST STARTED FIRES INSIDE HOSTELS FOR ASYLUM SEEKERS
Man detained in hospital for indefinite time
PARANOID schizophrenic Mahmoud Abbakir has been detained in hospital after he started two fires in hostels housing asylum seekers.
The 29-year-old, from Sudan, set the fires outside his housemates’ rooms while he was staying at Serco-run accommodation in Birches Head and Burslem.
He was found guilty of committing the acts at the end of the first trial to be held at Stoke-on-trent Crown Court since lockdown.
A judge has now ruled that he should remain in hospital for the protection of the public, until it is safe to release him into the community.
Prosecutor Steven Bailey told the jury: “On September 8, 2019, the defendant was living at Hammersley Street in Birches Head. Police were called to the address because there had been a fire there. It was a relatively minor fire outside the room of a resident.
“Police spoke to a resident. On that person’s phone was a video clip. It showed Mr Abbakir crouching down outside the door and setting fire, or trying to set fire, to the carpet.
“When police interviewed him about it, he admitted it was him and told them he had done it because he had an argument with one of the other residents.”
Following the incident, Abbakir was placed in another hostel – this time in Dartmouth Street, Burslem.
Mr Bailey said: “On the evening of September 29, a resident came home and passed the defendant, who was on his way out. The resident realised there were two small fires on the go in the corridor upstairs outside two rooms. One of the rooms was his.”
The court heard the resident managed to extinguish the fires and called police, who arrested Abbakir when he returned home.
Again, he told them during interview that he had started the fires because he did not like people in the house.
Abbakir, of no fixed address, pleaded not guilty to two charges of offences of arson, being reckless as to whether life is endangered.
Adam Watkins, mitigating, said he really struggled in a prison environment as his condition was not diagnosed and he cannot speak English.
Judge Paul Glenn sentenced Abbakir to a section 37 hospital order with a section 41 restriction order.
Judge Glenn said: “The view of one doctor was you represent a high risk of fire setting when you become annoyed or upset.
“That happened twice within three weeks when you were in the community.
“I am satisfied from the medical evidence that you were suffering from a mental disorder – paranoid schizophrenia – and your offending is in significant part attributable to that disorder.
“There is evidence that your condition has benefited from being in hospital, rather than prison.
“I am satisfied that the medical disorder you are suffering from is of a nature and degree which makes it appropriate for you to be detained in hospital for treatment.
“I am satisfied, having regard to the nature of the offences, and what I regard as a high risk of you committing further offences, that it is necessary in this case for the protection of the public from serious harm to make a section 41 restriction order. I make it without limit of time.
“I hope you will continue to comply with medication and treatment. I hope that your release will not be too far in the future.”