Ex-soldier denies targeting MP in office fire
PA MediaA former soldier who admitted burning down a building which contained an MP's constituency office disputes that he deliberately targeted the politician's premises.
Joshua Oliver, 28, had been living rough near the offices of Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Washington and Gateshead South, when he set fire to a bin store at the building in September.
At a previous hearing before Newcastle magistrates he admitted arson at Vermont House, in Washington, on the basis that he was reckless.
Recorder Jeremy Barnett told Newcastle Crown Court that a Newton Hearing, where the facts relating to the guilty plea would be decided, should take place on 9 March.
'He was reckless'
Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, outlined the background to the offences and said Mr Oliver went to live with his father after he was discharged from the army because of his behaviour.
Mr Perks said the defendant's father confirmed a "significant deterioration" in his son's mental health which led to him living rough near the offices.
The prosecution said CCTV images filmed over the days preceding the fire showed Mr Oliver breaking windows at Vermont House, damaging it, and burgling the building before finally setting fire to the bin store.
Mr Perks said the fire "took out the entire building".
As well as serving as the MP's constituency office, Vermont House also accommodated a veterans' mental health service operated by the NHS and a charity for people with extremely rare genetic diseases.
Lee Fish, defending Mr Oliver, who was not in court, said: "He disputes he deliberately targeted Hodgson.
"He disputes he intended to set fire to the building," Mr Fish said.
"He said he was reckless."
Smashing windows
The court was told Mr Oliver, who is in prison awaiting sentence, had not co-operated with the preparation of a psychiatric report or engaged with probation.
The arson charge stated that the damage to Vermont House was estimated to be between £250,000 to £500,000.
Mr Oliver also admitted burgling the building when he stole a mallet and power tools on the night.
He admitted three counts of criminal damage, namely smashing windows at Vermont House, in the days before the fire and twice smashing windows at his father's house in Sunderland in July.
