Hospital order for MP office building arsonist

A court has handed a hospital order to an arsonist who caused massive damage to a building that houses charities, health services and an MP's constituency office.

Josh Oliver, 29, had been living rough near Vermont House in Washington, near Sunderland, when he set fire to a bin store in September 2025.

Oliver pleaded guilty to arson and burglary on the basis he was "reckless", but denied the attack had "anything to do with" the Washington and Gateshead South Labour MP Sharon Hodgson who has an office in the building.

At Newcastle Crown Court, Judge Sarah Mallett said Oliver should be subject to an interim hospital order ahead of his sentencing on 10 December.

It has previously been said in court that Oliver went to live with his father after being discharged from the army because of his behaviour.

Following a deterioration in his mental health, he began living rough near Vermont House, which also accommodated a veterans mental health service operated by the NHS and a charity for people with extremely rare genetic diseases, the court heard.

The prosecution said CCTV images filmed over the days preceding the fire showed Oliver breaking windows and committing burglaries at the building before finally setting fire to the bin store.

The arson charge claimed an estimated cost of damage to Vermont House of between £250,000 and £500,000.

Heather Bolton, defending, previously told the court Oliver had not intended for the fire to spread to the building.

She said he accepted the arson charge on the basis that it was reckless rather than intentional.

On Friday, Jolyon Perks, prosecuting, said while that was not fully accepted by the Crown, given "the mental health condition of this defendant" there may be no need for a hearing where the facts relating to the guilty plea could be decided.

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