Judge Robert Linford noted that the 20-year-old had pleaded guilty at the very first opportunity to the charge of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered. He had also met regularly and engaged fully with the mental health team. However, during his time in prison he had made "significant progress" by keeping himself distracted by writing, drawing and "doing anything to keep himself busy". Mitigating on behalf his client, who sat quietly in the dock, he said Harradence had been in custody, held at HMP Exeter, since January 29 and that it had been "particularly difficult for him due to his mental health difficulties". He had poured cooking oil on the floor, gathered a number of items together and set them alight. However, noting how mental health services during lockdown were problematic for many people, his client was released to return to his flat and over the next three days his mental health deteriorated further, resulting in his extreme actions. The court heard how on the Monday of that week the then 19-year-old had made an attempt to self harm, smashing a bottle on his own head, leaving him needing hospital treatment. He added that such an accommodation was "not a great place for a young man with mental health issues". The court heard that Harredence was able to secure temporary accommodation with a homeless organisation in a property with other tenants, but that they too had "their own issues". The advocate said: "Since then he has been very much lost, alone and very much scared." However, as lockdown began, his relationship ended, he found himself without work, without a support network and becoming increasingly isolated he fell into a spiral of depression. He revealed that in March 2020 the young man's life had been going relatively well, with a job as an apprentice carer, a ongoing relationship and good support from his family. ![]() The advocate said experiences in Harradence's childhood had "blighted" his life and had led to a number of long-term mental health difficulties. In mitigation, his advocate told the court that a psychiatric report which had been prepared for the sentencing hearing painted a deeply upsetting picture and that the young man's attempt to take his own life was just one of a number of attempts. ![]() He said he had sat by the door as the flames took hold so that nobody could get in to rescue him and that his hope was to fatally succumb to the smoke and flames. He told officers that he was not getting any help for ongoing mental health difficulties. The court heard that damage to the property cost the landlady £2,443 to fix, with the insurance company not covering the full cost.ĭuring interview with police, Harradence said that he set the fire with the express intention of taking his own life. Police at the scene of the flat fire in Embankment Road (Image: Elliot Ball) Firefighters arrived moments later and using breathing apparatus entered the room, which was full of smoke, and used a hose to extinguish the fire, which by this time covered an area a metre square and was around two feet high. He poured a jug of water onto the fire before leaving. Inside the room the tenant found the door half open and peering in saw a fire on the floor. Read next: Plymouth teenager left in hospital after alleged assault on school playing field He moved away but on returning to the door found it partially open. ![]() He attempted to push open the door but it appeared wedged shut. The tenant later told police he could smell burning plastic, called 999 and on investigation saw smoke coming from the door of Harradence's room. One of the residents smelled smoke and moments later the fire alarm activated. Prosecutor Piers Norsworthy said the property composed of four flats, with Harradence living on the ground floor and three other tenants in the upper floors. However, he was later released and returned to the flat where he lived alone, descending further into depression and desperation. Plymouth Crown Court heard how the 20-year-old - who was 19 at the time - had smashed a bottle over his own head on January 24 and was taken to hospital for treatment. Josef Harradence was arrested by police following the incident at a rented property in Embankment Road in Prince Rock on Thursday, January 27 this year. A young man who had struggling with mental health issues has been jailed after he attempted to take his own life in a fire he set in his ground-floor flat.
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