Former soldier gets interim order after Sharon Hodgson office arson

Josh Oliver, 29, 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 in September last year, destroying the building.

Damage at the MP for Washington and Gateshead South Sharon Hodgson’s office (Image: PA MEDIA)

At Newcastle Crown Court on Friday, Judge Sarah Mallett agreed that Oliver should be subject to an interim hospital order ahead of his sentencing which will take place on December 10.

Oliver was not in court for the brief hearing.

He has previously admitted arson on the basis that he was reckless.

Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said while that was not fully accepted by the Crown, there may be no need for a Newton Hearing, where the facts relating to the guilty plea could be decided, given “the mental health condition of this defendant”.

A police cordon at the scene following the incident (Image: PA MEDIA)

It has previously been said in court that Oliver was discharged from the army because of his behaviour and went to live with his father.

Following a deterioration in his mental health, he began living rough near the MP’s office.

The prosecution has previously 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.

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.

The arson charge stated that the damage to Vermont House was estimated to be between £250,000 and £500,000.

Ms Hodgson did not attend the hearing.