Man jailed after ‘voices’ told him to torch flat

12:47pm Thursday 15th May 2008

A CWMBRAN arsonist is behind bars for public protection after setting fire to his flat in an effort to kill himself.

Christopher Stredwick, 30, started the fire at Victoria Street, Old Cwmbran, claiming voices in his head told him to do it.

Prosecutor John Probert told Cardiff Crown court that at about 8am on October 5, police and the fire service were called to his first floor flat in the middle of the terrace.

It was well ablaze when emergency services arrived and Stredwick was seen sitting on part of the roof of a porch from which he was brought down by firemen.

He appeared to be "dazed and spaced out."

The damage came to £80,000 and a family in an adjoining flat, had to use a hotel for some time because of the state of the roof.

Another resident of a flat below who had been in bed at the time and suffered breathing difficulties which necessitated the use of oxygen.

Stredwick had used lighter fuel to ignite a sofa which he placed in a stairwell.

He told the police: "Yes I did it, someone is after me."

He said his only intention had been to harm himself because he had heard voices and believed he was going to be murdered.

Stredwick had served four years imprisonment in December 2002 for arson with intent to endanger life when he set fire to a house in Blaina, using paraffin.

His counsel Andrew Taylor said: "There was a very small degree of planning.

On the day concerned he didn't have any grievances against anybody. But he heard voices and said he wanted to end his life."

Judge Nicholas Cooke described it as "an exceptionally serious offence," and he added Stredwick had in the past exhibited a tendency to commit arson.

He passed a sentence for public protection and directed that Stredwick not be considered for parole until he had served at least three years.

And it was possible, said the Judge that he would be transferred to a secure psychiatric unit in the future.