Patient who sparked £18,000 blaze at Sunderland hospital spared jail

Mark Smythe, who is detained under the Mental Health Act at Hopewood Park Hospital in Sunderland, lit a fire in his room that meant seven vulnerable residents on his ward had to be moved and were left "confused and distressed".

Smythe admitted to arson and while the judge described it as an "extremely serious" offence, his defence said ‘It is not in the interests of society’ to send him to jail.

Prosecutor Claire Anderson told Newcastle Crown Court earlier this week it was after 10pm on April 6 last year when Smythe, 42, said he wanted to speak to a medic or else he would "do something".

Miss Anderson added: "At 10.50pm the fire alarm sounded and staff could smell smoke.

"They saw the defendant on a windowsill in the corridor, smiling."

The court heard when Smythe's room was checked staff saw a curtain had been thrown over his television and was on fire.

Miss Anderson said the cost of the damage caused was £18,361.

Smythe, who has been detained due to his mental health problems for the last five years and has a criminal record, pleaded guilty to arson.

Brian Hegarty, defending, told the court: "It is not in the interests of society for a defendant with the difficulties this defendant has to be sent to prison, to take up resources within the prison and to suffer a worsening of his mental health conditions, only then to be released with probably greater needs than when he went in."

Mr Recorder Keir Monteith QC said the offence was "extremely serious" but Smythe's mental health condition makes it "unusual and novel".

The judge said jail could be "counterproductive" in Smythe's circumstances and told him; "You must never, ever break the law again. You certainly must not set fire to anything else again."

Smythe has been sentenced to a community order for three years with rehabilitation requirements and ordered to pay £400 compensation to the hospital.