Norwich man behind garden blaze turned water hose on police

Anthony Firth, 59, also made obscene threats to police control room operators, Norwich Magistrates' Court was told.

Neighbours had made a 999 call after seeing a fire at a property on Thorpe Road, in the city, engulf a garden shed after getting out of control on August 12 this year.

Prosecutors said a woman living next door who had confronted him about why he had lit the fire after dark had been violently threatened by Firth, who had said he was going to pour petrol on the blaze.

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Police who arrived with fire crews found Firth attempting to put out the fire with a garden hose.

After a dispute, he turned the water on officers, the court was told.

Anthony Firth leaving Norwich Magistrates' Court (Image: Newsquest)

In a separate incident four days earlier Firth had abused control room operators after being told they were unable to give him a crime number for an insurance claim.

He had used obscene language, including threatening to rape one female call handler on the police 101 number, said prosecutors.  

Firth, of Bullard Road in Norwich, pleaded guilty to assaulting emergency workers, using violent threats and making obscene and indecent messages.  

He has 22 previous convictions for 44 offences, and the latest incidents had occurred while on bail, the court heard.

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Gina Mattioli, mitigating, said he suffered from mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, which had affected his behaviour.  

Magistrates adjourned sentencing until November 23 for a pre-sentence report with all options open, including imprisonment.  

“These are serious offences against emergency workers who were there to help you not to suffer abuse and indignity at your hands,” they told Firth.

He was given bail conditional on not contacting police unless in an emergency or to report a crime.