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A destructive fire that ravaged a building housing the constituency office of Labour MP Sharon Hodgson was ignited by a man who has now confessed to his actions. The incident took place at Vermont House in Washington, where the Washington and Gateshead South MP’s office is located, in the early hours of Thursday. The perpetrator, 28-year-old Joshua Oliver, admitted to charges of arson and burglary at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, although his defense attorney claimed the act was unrelated to the MP.
Mr. Oliver, who currently has no fixed address, had been residing in a tent near the building in the Concord area of Washington. The fire not only caused severe damage to the front of the building but also impacted the premises housing a small charity for individuals with rare genetic conditions and an NHS mental health service for veterans. The estimated cost of the destruction amounts to between £250,000 and £500,000.
The court proceedings revealed that Mr. Oliver set a wheelie bin on fire, which subsequently escalated and engulfed the building. In addition to arson, he also confessed to breaking into the site and stealing a mallet and power tools on the same night. His defense attorney, Heather Bolton, emphasized that Mr. Oliver had not intended for the flames to extend to the structure. Despite his acknowledgment of the reckless act, the prosecution rejected the plea and a decision regarding a Newton Hearing is pending to determine the nature of the offense. Mr. Oliver also admitted to multiple counts of criminal damage, including vandalizing windows at Vermont House prior to the fire, as well as at his father’s residence in Sunderland on two occasions
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