Man admits starting fire that destroyed Labour MP Sharon Hodgson's office

"Joshua Oliver, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to arson, with the resulting fire wrecking the Washington and Gateshead South MP's office in the early hours of Thursday. The guilty plea was entered at Newcastle magistrates court on the basis that it was reckless rather than intentional. The Crown did not accept the basis of the plea. The fire gutted the premises, as well as those of a small charity for people with very rare genetic diseases called Niemann-Pick UK (NP UK)."

"Oliver had been living in a tent nearby, the court heard. District judge Kate Meek remanded him in custody to appear at Newcastle crown court on 14 October. Oliver was charged with arson of Vermont House, Washington, with the damage estimated at between 250,000 to 500,000, and he admitted starting a fire in a wheelie bin which then spread. Heather Bolton, defending, said: He accepts he has set fire to the wheelie bin, he didn't intend for the fire to spread to the building."

"The defendant was told a decision will be made whether a Newton hearing, where it would be ruled whether the offence was intentional or not, will be necessary. 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. The defendant also admitted twice smashing widows at his father's house in Sunderland in July. The district judge said he will be sentenced for all offences at the crown court."

Joshua Oliver, 28, of no fixed address, admitted starting a fire that destroyed Labour MP Sharon Hodgson’s constituency office. The guilty plea was entered at Newcastle magistrates court on the basis the act was reckless rather than intentional, a basis the Crown did not accept. The blaze gutted the MP's office, the Niemann-Pick UK charity space, and an NHS veterans' mental health service. Damage was estimated between £250,000 and £500,000. Oliver admitted lighting a wheelie-bin fire that spread, burgling the building to steal a mallet and power tools, and multiple counts of criminal damage. He was remanded to appear at Newcastle crown court; a Newton hearing decision may be required.

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