A HOUSEHOLDER has denied he ever intended to endanger the lives of his neighbours after a massive explosion which destroyed several Chester homes last summer.
Sidney Lawrence Thomas, 63, appeared in Chester Crown Court after facing two charges in connection to the blaze, which virtually destroyed a block of flats in Hoole Lane, Boughton.
Thomas, who had previously lived on the first floor of one of the flats, was not at home at the time of the incident in the early hours of Friday, July 17. The incident caused more than £150,000 worth of damage.
Police later located Thomas close to the Countess of Chester Hospital where his wife Joyce, 71, who was blind and suffered from Parkinson’s disease, had died earlier that month. He was arrested on suspicion of arson, but was also admitted to the Countess because of his physical state.
The defendant, with grey hair and wearing a grey jumper and glasses, denied the first charge of arson with intent to endanger the life of his neighbour Phillip Vernon and others.
However, he pleaded guilty to a second charge of arson with reckless intent to damage or destroy property at his own flat, number 27, as well as at numbers 21, 23 and 25, all belonging to Chester and District Housing Trust.
Defending, Michael Davis explained to the court Thomas was subject to section 3 of the Mental Health Act and has a bail condition of residence at the Scott Clinic, St Helens, Merseyside. He also said he would need six weeks to gather reports from doctors before the defendant’s sentencing.
Judge Roger Dutton adjourned the case to April 12 pending pre-sentence reports. He also ordered Thomas to continue residing at the Scott Clinic pending his next hearing.
* Meanwhile, residents from the eight affected homes have all been rehoused.
The housing trust has been considering redeveloping the block where the explosion took place.
CDHT assistant director Dave Soothill said: “An options appraisal for Hoole Lane has gone to CDHT Development Group for consideration and it has been decided to release the whole site for development.
“The site is being investigated to ensure that it is used for the greater benefit of CDHT residents and the wider community.
“The remaining residents have been consulted with regard to the proposals and they have a dedicated member of staff who is exploring their options with them; as always the residents are our number one priority.”
He added: “We are also currently in the process of appointing the architect to take the project forward with an anticipated start date of 2011 and will be consulting with the local community to ensure that their views are taken into account for the new development.”