News Beat
Ex-soldier admits fire at MP Sharon Hodgson’s office
Josh 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 on the basis that he was reckless.
The case was listed on Friday at Newcastle Crown Court to fix a sentencing date.
Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, outlined the background to the offences, saying Oliver was discharged from the army because of his behaviour and went to live with his father.
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 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 Oliver, who was not in court, said: “He disputes he deliberately targeted the Member of Parliament.
“He disputes he intended to set fire to the entire building.
“He said he was reckless.”
The court was told Oliver, who is in prison awaiting sentence, had not co-operated with the preparation of a psychiatric report or engaged with probation.
Recorder Jeremy Barnett said a Newton Hearing, where the facts relating to the guilty plea will be decided, should take place on March 9.
The arson charge stated that the damage to Vermont House was estimated to be between £250,000 and £500,000.
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.
Oliver also admitted twice smashing windows at his father’s house in Sunderland in July.
