A YOUNG father who wanted to die slashed his wrists before setting fire to a sofa bed in a block of flats filled with vulnerable adults.
Daniel Newton, 22, who has a history of mental health problems and even attempted suicide aged 11, started the blaze in his sheltered accommodation flat in Freebournes Court, Witham, but did not flee the building.
Instead, he called 999 and told them he was going to set fire to himself after stabbing and cutting himself.
When police officers asked Newton if he was concerned about the danger he caused to other residents that lived in the block he replied, "**** them".
A man waiting for a bus at the time of the incident noticed the Sanctuary House-owned building was alight and tried to get the attention of others in the block of flats in Newland Street above the Job Centre.
When fire crews arrived at the scene on March 24 at around 7pm they had to rescue an agitated Newton from the burning building, but he grappled with officers as they tried to get him into an ambulance.
As police tried to arrest him he bit an officer twice on the arm, to which the officer responded by punching him in the face.
Once at hospital Newton continued to be "excitable" and paced around the ward punching the walls.
"He was in a distressed state and had been drinking, he told doctors he consumed a bottle of vodka and ripped the fire alarm off the wall of his flat because he didn't care what happened to him and wanted to die," said Laura Kenyon, prosecuting, at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, where he was jailed for four years and three months.
He pleaded guilty to one count of arson with intent to endanger life and one count of assaulting a police officer.
Sanctuary, the housing association that runs Freebournes Court for vulnerable adults, estimated that £1,500 of damage was caused by the blaze.
Defending, Richard Connelly said: "The psychiatric report paints an extremely depressing picture. He has had a turbulent history, this was not a wanton act of destruction but set in the contexts of a history of self-harm.
"He is receiving some level of stability in prison and has taken a number of educational courses to improve his employment prospects.
"He is also gaining an insight into the triggers that bring about his self-destructive behaviours."
The court heard how Newton had 10 previous convictions, including the carrying of an offensive weapon and possession of Class A drugs, but he had never been in prison before and had no convictions for arson.
Sentencing him Judge Anthony Goldstaub, said: "You have various grudges against society, your family and the medical profession and you blame others for your failure to find employment and a settled life.
"Your psychiatric report confirms you are not mentally ill or require treatment in any hospital, you need containment and a period of rehabilitation, those factors are both present in prison."
Newton was sentenced to 48 months for arson and three months for assaulting a police officer, as well as being ordered to pay a £120 victim surcharge.
