Arsonist jailed for seven years to protect the public

Ian Harrison's actions twice led to the evacuation of part of Stockton's Holme House Prison, putting lives at risk.

Durham Crown Court was told 29-year-old Harrison was previously jailed for making a serious bomb hoax call.

Psychiatric reports, ordered by Judge Richard Lowden, said that he appeared to have no mental illness, but did pose a significant risk of re-offending.

Penny Moreland, prosecuting, said the first incident took place when Harrison was a resident at a hostel for homeless men, at Plawsworth, near Chester-le-Street, in January.

He started a fire in the library, damaging books donated by members of the public.

Miss Moreland said other residents put out the fire before it caused major damage.

When interviewed, Harrison said he used a lighter and an aerosol can to burn books and old mattresses - and told police he hated every member of the medical profession.

Two months later, while on remand in Holme House, he set fire to a television, a cabinet and clothing in his cell in the hospital wing, leading to an evacuation.

Miss Moreland said he started the blaze using a lighter, which he was allowed as he was a smoker.

The next fire was started in a social room on the wing, and staff, alerted by an alarm activating at midnight, were able to put it out using extinguishers, restricting the extent of damage to £1,200.

Miss Moreland said prison officers believed it had the potential to be a major incident, as it was necessary to unlock and evacuate 19 cells.

When interviewed, Harrison told police he wanted to kill the other inmates.

Harrison, of no fixed address, admitted three arson charges, the third being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Paul Currer, mitigating, said Harrison made frank admissions and was resigned to a long sentence.

Judge Richard Lowden said: "I have no alternative but to impose a long sentence as you are a dangerous man and the public need to be protected."