A man was jailed yesterday for an arson attack on a house that caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage.
Antony Murphy, 24, appeared at Newcastle Crown Court and admitted the fire attack at a bedsit in Peel Street in March.
Rachel Hedworth, prosecuting, told how Murphy caused more than £250 worth of damage to the one-bedroomed flat and also damaged a carpet, chair and the electrical wiring system.
Miss Hedworth told the court that, fortunately, no one was injured in the incident. Police spotted the blaze and called emergency services.
The court heard that Murphy had been suffering from depression and said he knew the building was empty.
Judge Guy Whitburn QC sentenced Murphy, who had previous convictions for arson, to nine-and-a-half years in prison, with an attached extended licence period.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article