Arsonist high on spice burgled then torched Leeds city centre flat Leeds Crown Court told

Michael Kitson, 61, then verbally abused firefighters called to the blaze in the flat at Fairburn Residences next to Leeds General Infirmary on Clarendon Road.

Leeds Crown Court heard the smoke was so dense in the hallway that the first firefighter on the scene had to crawl on his hands and knees to get to the flat.

Chloe Fairley, prosecuting, said students and young professionals live in some of the 17 flats on five floors.

Kitson broke into one unoccupied basement flat just before 6.30pm on July 13 2019 and took a fridge freezer and some furniture and dragged them into the hallway.

He then went to an occupied fifth floor floor flat and stole clothes and jewellery before setting two fires in the flat.

Kitson turned on all four rings on the electric hob and put a pan on one and placed a kettle in the pan before setting fire to a mattress in a bedroom.

The alarm was raised just after 10pm after black smoke was seen pouring out of a window at the flat.

Miss Fairley said Kitson shouted abuse at firefighters as they dealt with the blaze.

Kitson, of Beachill Road, Havercroft, Wakefield, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and two charges of burglary.

He has 20 previous convictions for 38 offences, including theft.

Joanne Shepherd, mitigating, said Kitson has a history of alcohol and drug abuse and has suffered mental health problems.

She said: "He simply has no recollection of that particular evening."

Miss Shepherd added: "He is deeply ashamed of his behaviour."

Jailing Kitson for three-and-a-half-years, Judge Simon Phillips QC told him: "You have admitted being high on spice during the incident.

"This was a multiple occupancy building. There was a high risk of very serious physical harm."

Judge Phillips said more than £15,000 of damage was caused to the flat, which was uninhabitable after the fire.