A rioter who has a “fascination with fires” has become one of the first of the jailed troublemakers to end up back in court – after he put the lives of others at risk through starting a blaze near a gas pipe. Jordan Murray had been released from prison after being jailed for two years in August 2024 following the notorious scenes of rioting in Hull city centre that month.
But he was soon back in trouble and behind bars on remand for four new offences, including two of arson, Hull Crown Court heard. Murray, 28, of Grasby Road, off Holderness Road, east Hull, but recently in custody on remand, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, arson, causing criminal damage and possessing cannabis.
Andrew Petterson, prosecuting, said that Murray set fire to three wheelie bins outside a woman’s home in Staines Close, east Hull, before 5am between March 29 and 30. The bins melted – and they were near a gas pipe.
Murray was seen on CCTV pictures. The woman later said that she had been left “scared and afraid to sleep” and that, because the bin fires were near a gas pipe, it was possible that she, her husband, two children and her grandmother could have died if there had been an explosion.
On April 12, Murray smashed the rear window of a Renault Clio car, belonging to a 90-year-old man, in Staines Close between 12.30 and 1am. He walked away but returned and set the vehicle on fire.
The car, valued at £5,000, was written off. The elderly man had bought it several years earlier and he used it to do his shopping but he could no longer do this and someone had to help him.
The same evening, Murray smashed a window of a Peugeot car parked in Staines Close. He was arrested at his home on April 16. Police found a small amount of cannabis and a “distinctive coat” that linked him on CCTV pictures to the offences.
There were videos on his mobile phone of other earlier fires. “They demonstrate that the defendant certainly had an interest in fires,” said Mr Petterson.
Hannah Turner, mitigating, said that Murray had been released from prison on licence after serving the two-year sentence for his role in the rioting. He had been back in custody again on remand since April.
Murray agreed in court that he had a “fascination with fires” but he said that he had, while in custody, received help for his alcohol and drug issues. He assured the court that he would change his ways. “You are definitely not going to see me again,” he said.
Murray was given a three-year suspended prison sentence, with a probation requirement. He was given a five-year restraining order.
At the original rioting sentence hearing in August 2024, the court was told that Murray was part of “mob-handed violence” and looting that broke out in Hull city centre. He was “persistently” in various locations during the trouble.
He was prominent at the front of a group in Jameson Street, running at police with a long metal bench, which he threw towards the line of police.
He behaved aggressively to police throughout and he was present when a garage was targeted in the Milky Way area.
Those at the garage, including children, barricaded themselves inside and were in fear for their safety. Murray had, that day, admitted violent disorder, two offences of burglary at the O2 and Greggs shops, and another offence of possessing cannabis. He had been given a five-year criminal behaviour order.
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