An arsonist who torched his room while flatmates s

An arsonist who torched his room while flatmates slept in the same building has been committed to a mental hospital.

Schizophrenic James Goldsmith, 24, doused his belongings in white spirit, set fire to the makeshift pyre and escaped the building in the early hours of November 13, 1999.

Terrified victims of the arson attack called the fire brigade and the blaze was extinguished before it spread to other rooms in the block.

The room at Cresswell Road in South Norwood was rendered uninhabitable and repairs valued at pnds stlg 16,000, the Old Bailey heard.

Prosecutor Stella Reynolds said Goldsmith walked into hospital the next day seeking treatment.

And he pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life is endangered in relation to the attack on December 23 last year.

Psychiatrist Jonathan Vince gave evidence backing Goldsmith’s admission to Springfield Hospital in Tooting.

‘He suffers from schizo-affective disorder and it is necessary to protect the public from serious harm.

‘Goldsmith continues to fail to see the potential serious consequences of fire-setting.

It is not the first fire he has set, he has a propensity to set fires under certain circumstances.

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Judge David Stokes QC made a section 37 order under the Mental Health Act, 1983, admitting him to the Shaftesbury Clinic at Springfield Hospital.

He also made a restriction order detaining Goldsmith at the hospital ‘without limit of time.

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Judge Stokes told Goldsmith: ‘At the moment you are potentially dangerous and in my view it it necessary to make a restriction order without limit of time.

‘I very much hope your recent decision to accept treatment will mean the treatment is successful.

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