A man who set three fires including in the bedroom of a terraced house said he was doing it for attention, a court heard.
Kci Hopkins appeared at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday after pleading guilty to three counts of arson with intent to endanger life or being reckless as to whether life was endangered. Christopher Hopkins, prosecuting, detailed that on April 16 last year, Hopkins was living in housing association accommodation in Birkenhead run by the Beacon Project, which has 64 rooms over three blocks.
The 20-year-old was in his flat with Shannon McMahon, and set a plastic bag on fire in his room while she was present, and ignored her pleas for him to stop. Hopkins continued to set another two bags alight using a lighter, and actually sprayed deodorant onto the bags to ignite them further.
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Ms McMahon said: “Stop it, you will kill us both”. He responded: “This is what my impulses do, I like setting fires”.
Hopkins eventually stamped the fire out, but Ms McMahon said she didn’t feel safe as she could not access the exit if the fire had spread. On August 28, in accommodation run by Unity Housing, at 55 Woodchurch Road in Birkenhead where Hopkins was now living, a suspicious fire at the terraced property was reported to police.
Hopkins asked another person living in the accommodation to go to the shop, and when the two men returned, the house was on fire. The fire was so severe, Merseyside Fire and Rescue had to be called to put it out, and extensive damage was done to the bedroom so it had to be gutted.
The damage was estimated to cost £10,000 plus around £4,000 in lost income when the property could not be rented. It was determined that combustible materials were set alight on a bed in the property, and that subsequently spread around the room.
Hopkins, of Coleridge Street, Liverpool, was arrested and interviewed, but released on bail. The third fire was set at Liverpool Lodge guest house, while he was on bail, where he had been relocated again.
Hopkins set window blinds at the property alight, but stayed to put it out using a fire extinguisher, asking witness Paul Blackburn to assist. However, while Mr Blackburn was distracted calling the police, Hopkins actually attempted to relight the blinds with his lighter but failed.
It was noted he was taking an “unhealthy interest” in the activities of the police relating to the fire. Hopkins was previously handed two suspended sentences for false reports to police and wasting police time, which he breached by committing these crimes.
David Birrell, defending, said: “His explanation is that he was attention seeking.” He detailed that nobody was physically harmed in the fires, and there was no proper accelerant used, though conceded deodorant was used.
Mr Birell said Hopkins has been diagnosed with an emotional instability disorder which makes him prone to impulsive decisions, without thinking of the consequences. He said despite this, the 20-year-old has now engaged well with mental health services and is taking the correct steps in custody.
In sentencing Judge Stuart Driver KC said: “You have to understand that this is a serious case. “You are to be sentenced for three serious offences of arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered.
“I am satisfied that you are a dangerous offender, there is a risk you will commit specified offences further.” He was sentenced to five years imprisonment plus a four year extended license.
No action was taken in relation to the suspended sentences.
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