A mental patient torched the smoking room of a hos
A mental patient torched the smoking room of a hospital after having an argument with his wife, the Old Bailey heard today (FRI).
Richard Strudwick, 39, barricaded the doors, then set fire to balls of newspaper after telling a pal: ‘This will show her.
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Then he left the smoke-filled room, climbed over a brick wall, and fled.
A fellow patient who was in the room at the time managed to force open a door and alert staff in a nearby office, and they extinguished the blaze.
Strudwick was found four hours later in the back garden of his home.
When he was arrested, he told police: ‘I want to see my daughter.
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The court heard how successful businessman Strudwick had been at the Bethlem Royal Hospital in Eden Park, near Beckenham, Kent, on a voluntary basis after suffering drink and drug problems.
On January 30 this year, he was in the smoking room with two other patients – Josie Davenport and Chris Norman – and seemed to be in a ‘disgruntled’ mood.
After taking a phone call from his wife, Strudwick’s mood apparently worsened, and he started telling the others that his wife no longer cared for him and wanted to take his daughter away.
Prosecutor Philip Shorrock said: ‘He then announced he was going to start a fire.
‘He said he had to close the patio doors so the fire would take hold, and he then secured the doors.
He began to screw up pieces of newspaper which he scattered around the room.
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The court heard that Mr Norman then left the room, and Strudwick started to barricade the door with ashtrays and a chair.
Mr Shorrock added: ‘He then set fire to the pieces of paper, and it wasn’t long before the room filled with smoke.
Ms Davenport said that he muttered ”This will show the missus”.
‘This was obviously a rather frightening experience for Ms Davenport.
If it had been left unattended for any length of time, it might have spread.
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It was also alleged that Strudwick refused to let Ms Davenport leave the room, telling her: ‘You’re not going anywhere.
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But Strudwick denied this, claiming that the blaze was a joint idea between him and Ms Davenport.
He also added that he phoned the fire brigade from a call box after fleeing the fire.
His barrister, Gordon Ross, said Strudwick had admitted himself to the psychiatric hospital, but had not been given regular anti-psychotic drugs.
Mr Ross added: ‘He sought the assistance of the medical authorities, and the system has let him down.
‘Because of the failings of the system, his life – and that of his family – has completely turned upside down.
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Strudwick, of Stoats Nest Road, Old Coulsden, Surrey, pleaded guilty to simple arson.
He was put on probation for 12 months.
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