A homeless man who caused thousands of pounds worth of damage when he started fires in public toilets has been jailed.

Daniel Askew, 35, set light to piles of rubbish in toilet blocks in both King’s Lynn and Dereham in a bid to keep warm, Norwich Magistrates’ Court heard.

Stephen Munton, prosecuting, said he had stolen a sleeping bag from the Trespass shop in King’s Lynn shortly before a blaze in the public toilets in Baker Lane that destroyed cubicles causing £3,000 damage.

Dereham Times: Daniel Askew caused thousands of pounds of damage after starting a fire in public toilets in King's LynnDaniel Askew caused thousands of pounds of damage after starting a fire in public toilets in King's Lynn (Image: Newsquest)

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Four days later on December 7 last year he also started a fire in toilets on the Market Place in Dereham that caused £2,000 of damage.    

He was identified from CCTV collecting items from bins that he then took into the toilet block and used to make a bonfire, said Mr Munton. 

Askew, of of no fixed address in the Swaffham area, appeared to be sentenced via video link from HMP Norwich having previously pleaded guilty to two counts of arson. 

He also admitted assault after an incident on December 12 when he pushed a bus driver into the windscreen during a dispute over smoking.

Dereham Times: Askew said he was trying to keep warm after also starting a fire in toilets in DerehamAskew said he was trying to keep warm after also starting a fire in toilets in Dereham (Image: Newsquest)

Other offences he pleaded guilty to included criminal damage after smashing glasses he grabbed from a woman sitting on a bench on St Stephens Street in Norwich and harassment of his grandmother at her home in Swaffham.

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Julie Adams, mitigating, said he had a significant history of diagnosed mental health issues and had been homeless at the time resulting in him starting fires to get warm.

“There was an escalation of offences over a short period. He is someone who needs some help. Prison is not the place for that,” she added.  

Magistrates said the seriousness of the arson offences meant it passed the custodial threshold, jailing him for nine months.

They also ordered he pay £250 compensation to replace the smashed glasses but added it was “not practicable” to order compensation for the fire damage.