Allerton man admits bedroom arson (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Allerton man admits bedroom arson

4:55pm Friday 28th August 2009

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A man recklessly started a fire in his bedroom after complaining his mother had made him an undercooked bacon and egg sandwich, a court heard.

Bradford Crown Court was told that Darren Johnson, 28, cared full-time for his 52-year-old mother, Mary Hussain, who had diabetes and Crohn’s Disease and had difficulty in walking, as well as working full-time.

Prosecutor Sarah Barlow said Mrs Hussain described the relationship with her son as difficult and he had been abusive and demanding.

Miss Barlow said that in April this year, after an argument with his mother, he had thrown paint on to a TV and video. It had also gone over walls and carpets.

On May 3 Johnson began throwing and smashing objects in the house after his mother made him the under-cooked snadwich.

He left the house and Mrs Hussain found a bin in his bedroom on fire, with flames shooting from an aerosol can. She and her sister put the flames out with water.

Nikki Peers, mitigating, said Johnson was a vulnerable individual doing his best to care for his mother. Things got out of hand on the day because of tensions in the relationship but he would be welcomed back into the home and had sought help for drink and drugs and anger management while in custody.

Johnson, of Rhodesway, Allerton, Bradford, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to endanger life and criminal damage.

Judge James Stewart QC said people had died a terrible death in fires as a result of the sort of behaviour Johnson had demonstrated and he had at first considered him to be a significant risk.

But the judge said he had been persuaded to look at the case in a different light by Miss Peers’ extremely impressive submissions.

He told the defendant: “I have just been persuaded to take a risk with you. But if you betray to risk and trust I place in you, you’ll be back down the stairs to prison before you can say Jack Robinson.”

Johnson was given a 12-month prison sentence suspended for two years, with supervision and requirements to attend the Calm programme and Stop Binge Drinking programme.

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