Sheffield arsonist 'torched his mother's shed

Sheffield Crown Court heard on June 9 how Jordan Gray, aged 30, of Delves Avenue, Hackenthorpe, Sheffield, set fire to the shed at Carter Lodge Walk, Beighton, Sheffield, in December 14, last year, and the heat caused scorching damage to his mother’s nearby home.

Recorder Adrian Langdale QC told Gray: “Your mother and her partner were in bed. She awoke to find her shed on fire.”

He added: “Not only is the shed fully burned out, there is significant scorching and melting of items attached to the property.

“There are plants and tubs damaged by the fire you set and the shed contained a number of combustible items.”

Gray had visited his mother’s home and he was identified from footage from a camera which he pulled off the wall, according to prosecuting barrister Susan Evans.

Ms Evans added that the fire service had to be called to extinguish the blaze.

Gray’s mother stated she feels scared by what her son had done and she fears their family is at risk but she wants him to get help.

The defendant, who has previous convictions including offences of violence, pleaded guilty to causing arson recklessly as to whether life would be endangered and he also admitted breaching a previously imposed community order.

Joy Merriam, defending, said scaffolder Gray has suffered a traumatic childhood and he has mental health problems and his offending was down to his drink and drug abuse.

She added Gray wants to apologise to his mother and he has expressed remorse and a desire to get help to get free of his drink and drug problems.

Recorder Langdale told Gray that the defendant’s claim that he was under the influence of drink and drugs was an aggravating feature because the shed fire and the risk it posed was out of his control.

He sentenced Gray to four-years of custody and the defendant was also made subject to a seven-year restraining order.