Exclusive:Man endangered life of neighbours after starting fire in 'cry for help' in shared accommodation
The court was told he felt that he couldn’t get help for his mental health problems
A man risked the lives of his neighbours when setting a fire in the room of his shared accommodation in what was described in court as a ‘cry for help’.
Keiron Nelson appeared at Sheffield Crown Court on Tuesday (June 2), three years after neighbours rushed to put out a blaze that had started in his room.
He started the blaze in a bid to receive better mental health treatment, the court heard.
Prosecuting barrister Mark Thomas opened his case by apologising for how long court proceedings had taken, saying: “Quite frankly I cannot find or can I justify the delay - it certainly does not seem to be any fault of the defendant.”
At the time of the incident, 37-year-old Nelson was living in a room at the former Wharncliffe Hotel on Bevercotes Road in the Firth Park area of Sheffield, which was converted into a HMO (house of multiple occupation) in 2016.
The court was told how the shared living accommodation was made up of 20 rooms, with a communal bathroom and kitchen.
Mr Thomas said that Nelson was living on the ground floor, and in March 2023 left a naked flame next to a storage box before leaving the building
Neighbours noticed the smoke and rushed into the room where they put out the fire, while police and firefighters were called, the court heard.
“Because of the actions of neighbour no significant fire developed that day,” Mr Thomas added.
Nelson was arrested nearby, with the court being told that the fire caused £5,646 worth of damage.
It was explained that the fire could have presented a serious risk due to the number of residents at the address, however Mr Thomas conceded that Nelson had no intention to endanger anyone else and it was instead a “cry for help because he wasn’t getting the help he required for his mental health”.
After his arrest, Nelson was sectioned and has since been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.
“From what I have read, he appears to be relatively stable,” Judge Tony Dunne said, as it was explained that in the years since the fire Nelson had moved and received mental health support.
Nelson, of Albion Road, London, pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered after an assessment to see if he was fit to plea.
When passing sentence, Judge Dunne considered all these matters, saying: “What you did, frankly, was extremely dangerous.
“This was a building where not only you were living, but many other people were living, including at least one child.”
However, considering his good character in the years since the fire, the judge chose to pass a sentence of two years, suspended for two years.
He added: “I hope and I believe that you will not need to come back to court, and that these two years will pass and you will be able to move on with your life.”
The judge told Nelson that if he does struggle with his mental health again he should seek support through the proper channels.