Man tried to set fire to Cambridgeshire building before pulling out a knife

He was said to be acting strangely before pouring lighter fluid on the floor

A man who tried to set fire to a council building has been jailed. Matthew Howson, 33, appeared at the reception of Huntingdonshire District Council’s offices at Pathfinder House in St Mary’s Street, Huntingdon, at around 1.30pm on April 14.

A man who was also at the reception with his dog said Howson was “acting very strange”. Howson then shouted “stop calling me a paedo”.

At Peterborough Crown Court on Wednesday (August 19), the court heard that Howson reached into a bag and produced a “can of lighter fluid”. The prosecution told the court that Howson then poured the fluid out onto the “floor in front of him” and “flames [were] seen coming from the floor area”.

The man with his dog went over to the fire to “stamp out the flames”. Howson then walked back to reception and produced a Stanley knife.

Prosecution told the court that this incident “happened in just over a minute”. Cambridgeshire Police were then called with reports of an “intruder” in a nearby disused fire station.

There, Howson was found with the lighter fluid and Stanley knife and arrested at around 2.30pm. He was later charged.

Howson was also found to be in breach of a condition of a stalking protection order. He failed to notify police that he had moved from his property in Newmarket, therefore breaching one of the conditions.

During the investigation, Howson admitted to the arson and possession of a knife. He said he was “unaware” that he breached the stalking order.

The court heard from the defence lawyer that the incident was a “short-lived event” and that there “didn’t appear to be serious alarm or distress caused”. However, the defence acknowledged that there may have been a “risk of alarm or distress”.

The court heard that mental health concerns were raised over Howson, as he had autism, ADHD, and an “unspecified mental disorder”.

The defence said Howson’s actions were “spontaneous”. He was also said to be carrying around items such as the lighter fluid as he was homeless, and the Stanley knife for “protection”.

Howson, who had been remanded in prison since April, was heard to be finding it “difficult”. The court heard that he wished to gain employment after serving his sentence and hoped to move to Bury St Edmunds to work with the church.

Howson was sentenced to a total of 22 months in prison. He was sentenced to 10 months in prison for arson with the intent to endanger, and a 12-month consecutive sentence for possession of a knife in a public place. No penalty was given for the breach of stalking protection order.

In giving his sentence, His Honour Judge Enright said that although distress was not caused, this event still would have been “frightening” for those who witnessed it.

Howson had 10 previous convictions for 15 offences. One of these was a caution for arson in 2012.