An arsonist struck again years after he previously held his wife in a "hostage situation" after setting fire to his T-shirt and curtains in a flat. Despite receiving an extended prison sentence in March 2012 for an offence of arson being reckless, Harold Blades carried out another arson offence in St Ann's in the early hours of May 17 last year.
This time, a drunk Blades put a bottle of petrol on the doorstep of the home of Jonathan Francis - who lived with his dementia-suffering uncle, aged 83, in Curzon Court. Blades deliberately pointed the bottle at the door, said Steven Gosnell, prosecuting, on Thursday (January 5).
He removed his gloves, lit the end of the bottle closest to the door with his lighter, then picked up his can of beer. The fire caused a minor fire on the doorstep and burn damage to the bottom of the door.
Read more: Review completed after double killer murdered Nottinghamshire gran while freed on licence
Blades, 66, of no fixed address, called 999 to report he had started the fire. Mr Francis was woken by the fire brigade. In interview, Mr Francis said there had been an issue between him and Blades.
Meanwhile, Blades admitted he committed the offence of arson being reckless during police interview, claiming he "wanted to scare people at the address". He was drunk at the time but aware of what he was doing, Nottingham Crown Court was told.
Blades has 36 convictions for 71 offences, including the 2012 arson where, where he had seemed to be at a window with a knife threatening to self-harm. He got his wife out of the window of the flat, and set fire to his T-shirt, took that off, and then set fire to curtains.
Judge Nirmal Shant, King's Counsel, said when police first arrived, Blades had appeared to be holding his wife and it was a hostage situation. Blades has a background of alcohol dependency, low tolerance to frustration and lack of empathy, a dissocial personality disorder and depressive disorder.
The judge has adjourned sentencing until 2pm on Friday, January 6 to hear from a psychiatrist about Blades, but had said the defendant had already had intervention to address fire-starting, having committed this offence in May last year, and "now he is doing the same thing".
Matt Hayes, mitigating, said no harm was caused to anybody in the latest incident and he is genuinely remorseful for his actions. Referring to the alleged issues Blades had been having before the arson, he said his client had made efforts to report them to his housing officer and police.
"His wife was admitted to hospital with a panic attack over issues caused by Mr Francis," added Mr Hayes. "He is in this difficult situation with someone who is causing issues and he is trying to deal with them using the proper channels.
"This sadly led him to behave in the way in the (CCTV) footage and how the prosecution have outlined".
Blades was arrested and denied intending to endanger the life of anybody - but was reckless on the basis he wanted to scare Mr Francis.
READ NEXT:
- Killer John Jessop cut throat of ex-lover Clair Ablewhite in Colston Bassett murder
Psychiatric report to be prepared as man admits robbery and possession of table knife
- Thieving sisters banned from Tesco Express store after violent attack on manager
Rough sleeper sentenced after being caught with rusty razor blade
Join Slimming World for free with this great offer - claim now to kickstart your journey
