The judge told him: “This was all due to you spiralling out of control.”
A heavy-drinking man suddenly started a fire inside his flat in a communal property – putting the lives of other residents at serious risk – after becoming angry that his car had been seized. Jamie Peterson telephoned the police and threatened to set fire to his flat unless he got the car back.
He followed through with his menacing threat and smoke was seen coming from the building, Hull Crown Court heard. Peterson, 42, of Great Thornton Street, off Anlaby Road, west Hull, admitted arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, on July 5.
Michele Stuart-Lofthouse, prosecuting, said that Peterson was living at the time in a communal property, divided into four flats in Muston Avenue, Cottingham. He telephoned the police demanding his car back as it had previously been seized by the DVLA.
Peterson aggressively threatened that, if there was no response to this, he would set fire to his flat. The alarm was raised at 11.50pm and smoke was seen. The fire service went to the scene.
They found Peterson’s door open but nobody there. A fire had started on the blinds in the kitchen. “By the time the fire services arrived, it had self-extinguished,” said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse.
There was damage. Peterson returned to his flat. The firefighters had left but the police attended and Peterson was arrested.
He was obstructive and seemed to have been drinking. He admitted having lighters but denied having used them or being involved in the fire.
“There was a risk of serious harm to others in the building,” said Miss Stuart-Lofthouse. “There was the commission of an offence while under the influence of alcohol.”
Stephen Robinson, mitigating, said that Peterson was willing to receive help for his drink problem. “He appreciates that even the level of drinking he is now at is very problematic but it’s beginning to affect his memory,” said Mr Robinson.
“He knows exactly where he stands should he not cooperate.” Peterson had previous convictions, mainly for driving matters, but most recently in 2007.
Judge Gurdial Singh said: “He threatened to set fire to his flat if he didn’t get his car back. At the heart of this is drink and he does need to address that.”
Judge Singh told Peterson: “Smoke was coming from the property. A fire alarm went off. It’s clear you set the fire and left. Clearly, you were reckless and there was harm. Anyone setting a fire and leaving has no control over that fire.”
Peterson was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence, six months’ alcohol treatment and 15 days’ rehabilitation. “You either tackle your drinking or you go to prison,” said Judge Singh.
“The choice is yours and yours alone. This was all due to you spiralling out of control.”
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