An arsonist set fire to his disabled neighbour's flat using his sock then laughed as he brandished a knife.
The victim says he is "lucky to still be here" after surviving what he described as a "legitimate attempt on his life" by Steven Newton. The 27-year-old was "acutely unwell" through mental illness at the time of the attack, which took place in the early morning.
Liverpool Crown Court heard yesterday afternoon, Wednesday, that Matthew Callard lived in the apartment above the defendant on Cawthorne Avenue in Kirkby. At around 6.30am on September 13 last year, he "heard someone tampering with his letterbox" and noticed the smell of petrol.
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The resident then saw smoke and poured water over the fire to extinguish it. Newton's fingerprints were later found on a tin of lighter fluid which had fallen through the letterbox.
Mr Callard opened the front door to find Newton standing in the communal hallway "holding a large knife and laughing". Police swiftly attended and saw Newton walking towards the block of flats with burn marks down the back of his right leg.
An investigation subsequently found he had poured the accelerant into a sock which was set alight and posted through the letterbox, causing £484.06 of damage. Charles Lander, prosecuting, told the court: "If he hadn't have detected the incident, other people in adjoining flats could have been injured."
The blaze followed a "number of previous incidents". A few days beforehand, Newton had "shouted through the ceiling that he would burn his house down".
Under interview, the cannabis addict denied starting the fire. He "began laughing hysterically" when it was suggested he had started it with a sock.
Mr Callard, who suffers from mobility and respiratory issues, said in a statement which was read out to the court on his behalf that he had been subjected to "months of constant intimidation" at Newton's hands, including "coming to his door with weapons numerous times". He added: "I can't begin to express how lucky I am still to be here.
"If the fire had took hold, I would not be here. He started the fire at the only exit to my home, knowing I would not be able to escape. I feel lucky that I woke up and managed to put the fire out before it took hold. My family would have lost a son and a brother.
"I will take no pleasure in seeing the defendant jailed, but this was a legitimate attempt on my life. I ignored the threats because I wanted a quiet life. I no longer feel safe in my own home. He has terrorised the whole block, and I know people were terrified of him but they were worried about speaking out."
Newton, who appeared via video link to Rowan View Hospital, has been sectioned previously and suffers from paranoid schizophrenia. Peter White, defending, said: "Quite simply, I would say this is a man who was acutely unwell at the time of the offence.
"Hopefully, he has made good progress and will continue to make good progress. There does appear to be a completely different side to Mr Newton. His family are there to support him. He just hopes to get better and ultimately be released."
Newton, who has no previous convictions, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered. He was handed an indefinite hospital order with restrictions.
Sentencing, Judge David Aubrey QC said: "Your culpability was lessened to a significant degree, but what you did was highly dangerous. Fortunately, Mr Callard was able to take action.
"I am satisfied that you are suffering from a mental disorder and that your offence is significantly attributable to that. One hopes that you continue to respond to the treatment that you are receiving."
Newton was also handed a restraining order banning him from contacting Mr Callard for life.
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