by Jenny Loweth T&A Reporter A “cold and hungry” tenant who removed his gas fire and started a blaze on the hearth has been cleared of recklessly endangering neighbours at his block of flats.

A jury yesterday afternoon found Paul Daynes not guilty of arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered but guilty of the less serious offence of simple arson.

He was remanded back into custody at Bradford Crown Court to be sentenced on Monday, September 16 when a psychiatric report has been prepared.

Daynes, 41, of Brackenholme Royd, Buttershaw, Bradford, was accused by prosecutor David Gordon of endangering the lives of his three neighbours at the block of Incommunities flats on April 17.

He admitted pulling out the gas heater and using broken fence posts and paper to light a fire in the hearth.

He threw on an empty gas canister that had contained lighter fuel and then went to the shops.

Daynes told the court he had lived alone at the flat for five years, with his dog.

His benefit payments had been stopped for ten weeks because he failed to attend an interview and he had no gas or electricity.

He said it was a cold day and he put about ten pieces of broken fencing in the hearth to build a fire for warmth.

“I was going to do some cooking on it as well,” he told the jury.

Daynes said it was easy to pull the gas fire out of the way. He checked that the chimney was clear and lit the blaze with his lighter.

“It took about ten minutes to get it going, it was only a small fire,” he said.

He watched the flames for about ten minutes and then went out to a nearby shop for dog food and milk.

When he returned, his neighbour, Harold Watson, was outside.

He returned to the flat and threw a pint of water from a glass on to the flames.

The blaze went out but the water created smoke and the fire service and police arrived.

Daynes said he hoped to bake potatoes in foil on the fire.

“If it had been out of control, I would not have gone out,” he said.