Lonely and partially deaf Paul Smith started a fi

Lonely and partially deaf Paul Smith started a fire outside
his neighbour’s bedsit after a row over playing his stereo
too loud.

The court was told victim Ken Willison, 37, was lying in his
room across the hall from Smith’s bedsit on February 1 last year when
he was roused by the noise of his neighbour’s stereo.

He banged on door, only to have Smith poke a knife through a hole
in the door, said Mr David Waters, prosecuting.

The noise continued.

Again, he went to remonstrate with his
neighbour but this time Smith was looking through his partly-open door
with the knife in his hand.

The noise abated soon after but within a few minutes Mr Willison
was woken by smoke drifting into his room.

He opened his door to find
the hallway filled with acrid smoke.

The house, in Acton Lane, Acton, had no fire escapes but luckily he
was able to make his way out the front door, counsel said.

‘Outside, he noticed Smith grinning at him.

‘
The fire was quickly doused by emergency services and Smith was
arrested.

Asked why he started the fire, 29-year-old Smith replied: ‘Because
I haven’t any friends.

‘
In court he admitted recklessly endangering life by arson.

Judge Neil Denison QC was told Smith was suffering from a
psychopathic disorder.

The judge made a hospital order under the Mental Health Act, and
committed him to Rampton.

ENDS