Man admits arson at MP Sharon Hodgson’s Washington office building

A man admitted that the Labor Party MP Sharon Hodgson had a fire that caused significant damage to a building containing the election office.

Blaze began at Vermont House, Washington, where Washington and Gateshead South deputy was one of a series of tenants immediately after midnight Thursday.

28 -year -old Joshua Oliver was found guilty of arson and theft at the Newcastle Magistrate Court.

Mr Oliver, who was not a fixed dwelling, was detained on October 14 before he was punished in the Crown Court of the city.

The court heard that Mr. Oliver lived in a tent near the building in the Concord area of ​​Washington near Sunderland.

The fire destroyed the front of the building and damaged a small aid organization for people with very rare genetic diseases and a NHS mental health service for veterans based on the same building.

The defense said that Mr. Oliver accepted the accusation of arson because he was reckless rather than being deliberate.

The crown did not accept this basis of objection.

Mr. Oliver was also found to be guilty of the stolen of an electric vehicle on September 10 and a number of penalty damages committed between July and September.