The sentencing of a man who has admitted setting fire to his partner’s home, having heard “voices” in his head at the time, has been put back due to a delay in obtaining a psychiatric report.

Ryan Atkinson previously admitted arson being reckless as to whether life or property was endangered, arising from the blaze at an address in Ash Terrace, Leadgate, near Consett, on Saturday October 7.

The resulting fire caused significant damage to the property, owned by housing provider Karbon Homes.

Atkinson was warned by a judge at Durham Crown Court that “ordinarily” such an offence would attract a prison sentence of four years-plus.

The Northern Echo: Durham Crown Court heard that defendant Ryan Atkinson claimed to have been hearing 'voices' at time

Due to concerns over the defendant’s mental health, raised in a Probation Service report which referred to him having “heard voices” prior to the offence, the case was adjourned for defence lawyers to seek preparation of a psychiatric report.

Atkinson told the judge at that hearing, shortly before Christmas, that at the time of the offence: “It was when I was on drugs, using cannabis and cocaine.”

Appearing via video link from Durham Prison, where he remains on remand, Atkinson added, however: “I’m feeling a lot better now I’m off drugs.”

The Northern Echo:

The sentencing hearing was adjourned until this week, but when the case was called on defence counsel Tony Davis told the court that a medical expert was “lined up” to carry out the assessment only for the Legal Aid Agency to refuse to grant funding for the psychiatric report.

But the court heard that steps have now been taken, through the resident judge at the court, to “action” the preparation of the report.

Mr Davis told the court: “He (the defendant) remains in custody and it’s going to be a significant custodial sentence either way.”

Judge Nathan Adams, therefore, agreed to adjourn the hearing for a further six weeks to allow the medical assessment to be made and for an update to the Probation Service report.

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The judge told Atkinson: “I’m afraid the sentence can’t go ahead today.

“A psychiatric report has not yet been obtained, but, hopefully, all the paperwork will now be in place to enable it to go ahead.”

Judge Adams adjourned the sentencing hearing until March 27 and remanded the defendant to remain in custody in the intervening period.