Residents at Cottingley Towers skyscraper in Leeds feared disaster similar to Grenfell fire when arsonist torched his 20th floor flat

An arsonist put 'countless' lives at risk when he torched his council flat at a tower block in Leeds.
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Residents feared the 25-storey building would be engulfed in flames similar to the Grenfell disaster during the terrifying incident at Cottingley Towers.

Leeds Crown Court heard all 100 flats at the tower block had to be evacuated after Adian Davenport started the fire on October 1, 2018.Robert Galley, prosecuting, said the window of his flat exploded and flames started licking the outside of the building.

A wall also collapsed in Davenport's flat on the 20th floor

Adian Davenport caused 27,000 worth of damage at Cottingley Towers by torching his flat on the 20th floor.Adian Davenport caused 27,000 worth of damage at Cottingley Towers by torching his flat on the 20th floor.
Adian Davenport caused 27,000 worth of damage at Cottingley Towers by torching his flat on the 20th floor.
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Davenport was today detained indefinitely under the Mental Health Act after pleading guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Judge Tom Bayliss, QC, said: "There are 100 flats within that building.

"Your flat is on the 20th floor. That morning, for no particular reason, you set fire to it.

"You put the lives of countless other residents at risk.

Emergency services at scene of arson at Cottingley Towers on October 1, 2018Emergency services at scene of arson at Cottingley Towers on October 1, 2018
Emergency services at scene of arson at Cottingley Towers on October 1, 2018

"Some of those residents were elderly. It must have been terrifying for them."

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The judge also praised firefighters who dealt with the incident, saying: "The public owe a great debt of gratitude to those who tackled the fire. There was no loss of life."

The court heard Davenport's mother, who also lives in the same tower block, contacted emergency services around 11.20am after the defendant rang her to say he had set fire to his mattress and some letters.

One of Davenport's neighbours described how he saw him near the lift outside his flat shouting: "Call the fire brigade."

One hundred flats at Cottingley Towers had to be evacuated after Adian Davenport set fire to his home.One hundred flats at Cottingley Towers had to be evacuated after Adian Davenport set fire to his home.
One hundred flats at Cottingley Towers had to be evacuated after Adian Davenport set fire to his home.

The neighbour was struggling to breathe because of the smoke coming from the flat but managed to escape to the 18th floor.

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Mr Galley said: "In the light of the Grenfell fire he felt very fearful."

Another resident shut himself inside his flat when smoke began coming through his window.

He was rescued 30 minutes later by firefighters.

Extensive damage was caused to Cottingley TowersExtensive damage was caused to Cottingley Towers
Extensive damage was caused to Cottingley Towers

Around £27,000 worth of damage was caused to the building.

Davenport, 34, also pleaded guilty to an offence of burglary at Around the Clock newsagents, on The Headrow in Leeds city centre.

During that offence, on September 16, 2019, he stole cigarettes and alcohol worth £1,900 after smashing his way in through a window.

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The court heard from two psychiatrists who described how Davenport suffered from a personality disorder which was made worse by drug abuse and the defendant failing to take his medication.

Dr Claire Gallagher said Davenport had told her that he had taken an ounce of amphetamines the day before the fire and had not slept.

She told the court: "In the months leading up to that he was out of touch with psychiatric services and I do not think we can take that risk again."

Davenport appeared in court via a video link from Cheswold Park secure mental health hospital, in Doncaster.

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The court heard he he has been receiving treatment at the hospital since January this year.

Judge Bayliss said it was necessary to detain Davenport under the Mental Health Act to protect the public due to the nature of the offence and the defendant's history of mental illness.