A man suffering paranoid schizophrenia started a fire in his flat and then went outside, locking the door, having barricaded it from within with a sofa, a court heard.

It led to neighbours of Reece Murphy having to evacuate their properties, while he sat outside, in an apparently agitated state, having failed to alert the emergency services.

Murphy admitted a charge of arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, on the day of a recent scheduled trial.

He appeared back at Durham Crown Court, via video link from the city’s nearby prison, for the sentencing hearing.

The Northern Echo: Reece Murphy set fire to bedding then locked flat door and went outside, where he was found b

The court was told another resident of Gofton Walk, a small two-storey flat block in West Denton, Newcastle, raised the alarm having seen the defendant’s ground floor property ablaze at 8.15pm on February 24 this year.

Dr Chris Wood, prosecuting, said the neighbour noticed Murphy outside in an apparently distressed state, “clearly agitated”.

Read more: Defendant set light to sofa causing fire at rented property in Consett

Fire officers arrived and managed to quell the flames through the window, having been unable to gain entry via the locked and barricaded door.

A fire officer managed to enter via the window and noticed a sofa wedged against the door and wall.

He removed it to enable access via the door.

A police officer at the scene heard the defendant in his agitated condition remarking that the Queen Mother was present at the address, while he was also walking up to the fire-damaged property shouting aggressively into the flat.

Examination of the flat revealed the fire alarm was removed from the ceiling and placed in a duvet cover, while a dust cover was placed over another alarm.

Photographs from within the damaged property revealed the fire emanated from the bed.

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When interviewed, Murphy accepted he had been smoking and barricaded the property, before leaving.

Dr Wood said the flat was left “devastated” and the council confirmed the damage amounted to £18.125.

The defendant, who could be heard saying to Judge Jo Kidd: “It was an accident, miss,”, offered to pay for the damage.

He was muted so his counsel, David Callan could make representations on his behalf.

Victim statements were first read to the court, in which neighbours spoke of the defendant’s unpredictable behaviour in recent months.

The court heard he has 16 convictions for 19 offences, reflecting a history of, “disorderly conduct, mischief and misconduct”, including a previous offence of arson.

Mr Callan said psychiatric reports prepared for the sentencing hearing reflected the perceived “dangerousness” of the defendant.

He told the hearing: “You don’t need to be an expert in body language to notice he’s extremely vulnerable."

Mr Callan said Murphy has endured, “a dreadful life”, with, “every indicator of future offending.”

“He’s now of no fixed abode having been living in a flat for 18 months.”

Mr Callan said the flat was in a “terrible state” when examined, and “not fit for a dog to live in”.

 He said the defendant is a paranoid schizophrenic, who has misused drugs and alcohol.

Judge Kidd said the reports indicated, “a significant history of mental health problems”, not assisted by his abuse of drink and drugs.

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She said she sentenced him on the basis he presents a significant risk of committing further specified offences.

Judge Kidd passed an extended sentence, including three-years’ custodial element, of which the defendant must complete two-thirds before he can be considered for release on licence.

When he is released he must complete three years’ extended licence period.