A mentally ill Penrith arsonist who threatened to stab two firefighters through thick smoke as they worked has been jailed.
Police were alerted by the fire service on March 18 to a blaze in a Carleton Road property, which is divided into flats which is supported housing for vulnerable people.
Eren Zihni, 39, lived in an upper floor address of a building which was entered by two firefighters from the first of four crews to attend the scene, at around 10.55pm.
They were wearing breathing apparatus to search and potentially rescue anyone. Zihni had started a fire in his flat which spread. There was a great deal of smoke, the pair locating the seat of fire on a sofa with witnesses also describing the carpet and floorboards ablaze.
This was extinguished by the firefighters, who went to Zhini’s room across the landing but found the door barricaded.
“An attempt was made to kick the door down but the defendant told them to leave him alone as he wanted to kill himself,” prosecutor Tim Evans told Carlisle Crown Court. “They tried to talk to the defendant who responded by threatening to stab them, telling them he had two knives.”
One firefighter later described himself as frightened and not knowing where Zihni was through the smoke while threats were being delivered. His colleague talked about retreating in fear that blades might be used.
During five hours of police negotiations, Zhini made a string of stab threats, speaking of having nowt to lose and saying ‘if I’m dying I’m taking someone else with us’.
The fire caused £22,000-worth of structural damage, while the cost of requiring was put at £2,500 and furniture at £2,770. The flat — intended for use by a vulnerable person — was out of use for a time.
Zihni admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and affray.
Jeff Smith, mitigating, said he had been suffering quite dramatically from schizophrenia at the time.
“He had very little recollection of what was going on,” said Mr Smith of the night. “He regrets the damage and fear he caused to people around him.”
Judge Ian Unsworth KC noted Zihni had since undergone medical treatment and was remorseful. Jailing him for 40 months, the judge said: “It was a time, late at night, when people might be expected to be asleep or getting ready for bed.
“This was a multi-occupancy premises and multiple people were endangered.”
