A suicidal arsonist told police he had "very strong" thoughts of kidnapping, molesting and murdering young girls" after a fire which led to mass evacuation. A court heard Darren Edwards made the disturbing comments as he was jailed for three years and one month for arson being reckless.
Edwards, 48, of Belconnnen Road, Bestwood, lived on the middle floor of a three-storey block of seven Nottingham City Council-owned flats, next to a building with more than 20 flats. An unknown number of people were evacuated on August 21, 2021, and the damage caused was more than £5,200, Nottingham Crown Court heard on Monday, June 27.
The defendant was having, "suicidal thoughts" when he admitted to police using white spirit and a lighter to start the fire, said Catherine Picardo, prosecuting. "He told police he had fleeting thoughts of kidnapping, molesting and murdering young girls, which was 'very strong'.
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"He suggested he will one day act on his kidnapping thoughts." Andrew Wesley, mitigating, said, having started the fire, Edwards made the, "positive decision" to get emergency services involved. "He will say it was again an attempt at suicide."
Mr Wesley added a fire report, "makes it obvious", the fire could not spread because of the fire doors and there was very little combustion in that area. He stressed Edwards is on medication in prison and has been having suicidal thoughts again.
Judge Rupert Mayo said Edwards rented his flat from the local authority in Broxtowe in August 2021. Flats were above and below his property and the fire was set at about 3am.
The fire report suggested there was not much combustible material around where he set the fire.
"The number of people that would be affected by a fire - both for firefighters and other residents - was considerable," said Judge Mayo. "You were not living in an isolated caravan, shed or small house, you were in a multi-occupancy block".
Edwards had no relevant previous convictions. The judge set aside the comments the defendant made to police - saying it may be these form separate civil proceedings or the Crown Prosecution Service return to court to apply for a sexual harm prevention order.
Detective Inspector Ruby Burrow, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “Edwards could very easily have killed or seriously injured himself or others during this incident, which would have been a lot worse without the very swift attention of Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service.
“I am pleased he has now been sentenced and hope this incident will serve as a warning to others about the consequences of starting fires deliberately.”
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