Bungling arsonist left wallet in phonebox after calling 999

The 33-year-old was struggling to walk straight and referred to a "cigarette" and "turps" when arrested over the "totally unsophisticated" incident.

Bungling arsonist left wallet in phonebox after calling 999 to report fire

A drunken arsonist set fire to a vacant nightspot then left his wallet on the payphone he used to make a 999 call then was spotted at the scene of the blaze.

Christopher Morris, 33, was seen "staggering about" in the carpark when firefighters arrived at Canal Walk on Halton Road, Runcorn, early on Saturday, July 13, prosecutor Chris Hopkins told Liverpool Crown Court this morning.

The fire service had received a 999 call from a pay phone at 6.48am to report a blaze on Stonehills Lane nearby, but found nothing there on arriving.

A short distance away they spotted the blaze at Canal Walk – described by Mr Hopkins as an "entertainment" venue.

Fire officer Tom Morley went to tackle the flames and saw a drunken figure struggling to walk.

Mr Hopkins said: “He described, as he began to assist fighting the fire, he noticed a male staggering about.

“The male was extremely intoxicated, staggering and couldn’t walk straight.

“The male said something and staggered out of the car park onto Halton road.”

Two seats of the fire were discovered – one involving a tree and another in a brick lean to outhouse.

Flames had spread to the roof and across to the roof space above the main part of the building, causing "substantial damage".

The building’s owner Terence Janes said the site was locked, secured and uninhabited at the time of the fire.

He declined to provide a valuation of the damage, but Mr Hopkins said photographs showed "substantial damage" and had been estimated by a fire officer to be worth around £40,000.

Cheshire police arrested Morris who was asleep on the settee at home on York Street and he made a remark that he’s "mainly lit a cigarette in the cupboard" and said "it was a bottle of turps on the shelf".

Although he initially denied arson, he was identified in a Viper parade by Mr Morley.

Mr Hopkins said Morris was of previous good character with no other convictions.

Discussing the offence categorisation for seriousness, he said there was no "significant economic or social impact".

Legal discussions established the offence carried a sentencing range of six to 18 months in prison.

Jeremy Rawson, defending, said that although the influence of alcohol was an aggravating feature, several aspects mitigated in Morris’s favour: his lack of convictions, his remorse, his "strong work ethic" with a job lined up, and status as a carer for a sick family member.

He said Morris did not answer questions in police interview because he did not know what had happened, and his poor state was shown by him leaving of his wallet in the phone box.

Mr Rawson said: “He doesn’t recall much, if anything of this incident.”

Judge Steven Everett, Recorder of Chester, agreed it was "totally unsophisticated".

Mr Rawson, arguing for a community order or suspended sentence, said Morris "feels disgraced and embarrassed" and was also "ashamed that he walks out of this court with a record of conviction".

He said: “He’s a decent man who made a foolish and stupid mistake.”

No-one was injured in the fire and the building was relatively isolated from other buildings and residential addresses.

Judge Everett sentenced Morris to six months in prison, suspended for 18 months, warning that if there had been a risk or harm to life he would be going to prison "for a very long time".

Morris must also complete up to 20 days on a rehabilitation activity requirement.

During his sentencing remarks, Judge Everett said: “On the day in question in July last year, you had been out drinking.

“Then, why you did I have no idea, why you did it defies belief – you were very drunk – you came across this building.

“You were smoking in a small brick lean to to the building and fire started.

“Through your recklessness that fire spread into the roof of the main building and it seems the suggestion is it caused close to £40,000 of damage.

“This is a significant amount of damage.”

He added: “You’re getting a chance.

“You have a very good work history and you have a job to go to when coronavirus recedes, and the whole approach in your family suggests to me that you are by no means a lost cause.”

A Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service log published at the time said three fire engines attended, from Runcorn, Widnes and Penketh.

Four firefighters, two of them wearing breathing apparatus, extinguished the blaze.