AN ARSONIST caught with a knife tried to set fire to a toilet roll holder in a Worcester pub because he was ‘bored’.

Louis Harrington tried to set fire to the plastic cowling of the toilet roll holder at the Flag public house in Lowesmoor, Worcester but the fire failed to take hold.

The 20-year-old of Cole Hill, off Wyld's Lane, Worcester, had already admitted arson on a reckless basis and possession of a blade in a public place following the incident on January 9 this year. He appeared via videolink at Worcester Crown Court yesterday to be sentenced.

It is the second time the defendant has been caught with a blade in public, meaning the judge had to impose a minimum six month sentence unless exceptional circumstances made it unjust to do so. Harrington had a screwdriver on January 4, just five days before he was caught with the knife.

On that occasion he was heard making threats to kill in Worcester city city centre though police could not determine who they were directed against.

Paul Whitfield, prosecuting, said Harrington tried to start the fire at 10.45pm on January 9, entering the toilet with several disposable lighters. The fire did not ignite but the cowling melted in the cubicle, causing around £10 worth of damage.

“No person or member of staff was put in danger as a result of that damage by fire” said Mr Whitfield.

Harrington was challenged by bar staff but gave no identification. He was later identified though CCTV and arrested at around midnight the following day. When challenged by officers Harrington’s response was: “Oh yeah, that was an accident.”

Harrington told police he had a knife, described as a small cleaver, because he was a chef. He said he was Sikh which meant he was entitled to carry a knife.

William Rose, defending, said Harrington started to abuse drugs in high school, including cocaine, MDMA, heroin and cannabis. He told the court Harrington was undergoing assessment for autism and also suffered from ADHD.

“He told me he was bored. It’s a lack of structure and boredom” said Mr Rose.

Mr Rose said Harrington had been the victim of a serious physical assault where he was kicked and punched repeatedly, resulting in ‘grievous bodily harm injuries’ (section 20) at the start of 2017. Harrington had also been bullied and threatened in custody and had started carrying a knife for his own ‘perceived self-protection’.

Harrington had a job at a fast food restaurant at Strensham services on the M5 but was ‘fired’ because he could not keep to the shift patterns.

Mr Rose described the arson as showing ‘half-heartedness’, arguing that it was at the lower end of the scale. He asked the judge to take into account the defendant’s youth and that he had spent nearly four months on remand already, the equivalent of an eight month prison sentence.

Judge Robert Juckes QC said although the damage had been limited it was a determined attempt to cause a fire and said carrying knives led to deaths.

He added: “Any kind of violence is made far more serious by the production of knives. That is why the legislation is so draconian and serious as far as that is concerned.”

However, the judge said there were exceptional reasons not to impose the six month immediate prison term, including the defendant’s youth and lack of other serious convictions. The judge imposed a 16 month prison sentence suspended for two years.

Harrington must complete 48 rehabilitation activity requirement days and will be placed on a six month daily electronically monitored curfew between 7pm and 7am.