A LONELY refugee who set fire to his Bradford flat hoping it would bring fellow Eritrean’s to see him has been jailed for three years and four months.

Mukur Ftwi had been cautioned for starting a similar fire at multi-occupancy accommodation in Hull when he used a lighter to ignite bedding at the address in Upper Rushton Road, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Ftwi, 32, who had since been remanded in Leeds Prison, was at a high risk of reoffending, his probation officer reported.

He pleaded guilty to reckless arson on June 23 last year and was assisted by a Tigrinya interpreter for today’s hearing.

Prosecutor Robert Mochrie said Ftwi was an illegal immigrant seeking asylum and awaiting a decision from the Home Office.

The fire he started took hold and there was significant heat and smoke damage to the flat. The man living next door was alerted by his smoke alarm and was able to leave.

Mr Mochrie said the blaze did not spread beyond Ftwi’s room. When the police and fire service attended, he was standing some distance away holding two bags of clothing and staring at the fire.

He was detained and admitted setting fire to his bedding with a lighter.

He said he was lonely and he ‘hoped the fire would bring people from his country over to him.’ Ftwi had damaged a hotel in January, 2022, it was disclosed. No action was taken but when he was moved to Hull he set fire to a multi-occupancy hotel and received a caution. Soon afterwards, he was Sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

Mr Mochrie said this was at least the second time he had set fires.

Defence barrister, John Batchelor, said Ftwi had always accepted responsibility for caus-ing the fire.

He conceded that the court would have regard to the caution but Ftwi was very unwell at the time.

He was an asylum seeker who had spent six years in Germany before coming illegally by boat to this country.

The arson was a desperate act when he was isolated from other Eritrean people. He was now in a prison cell on his own with no English and just a television.

Judge Colin Burn said Ftwi had committed criminal damage at his first hotel accommodation and then, having been moved to Hull, he had damaged his flat by fire.

He was then detained under the Mental Health Act for two months before being moved to Bradford in April last year. By June 23, he had felt isolated and damaged his flat by fire.

“You don’t give thought to the risks to others from your actions,” Judge Burn said.

He told Ftwi that where he went after serving his sentence was a matter for the Immigration Service.