Norwich arsonist's sentencing held up by psychiatric report

Metkel Gebremeskel, 28, has previously admitted arson and being reckless as to whether life was endangered after he torched a mattress at his flat in Balderston Court, off Calvert Street, causing more than £8k worth of damage.

Norwich Crown Court (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)Gebremeskel was due to appear at Norwich Crown Court for sentencing on Wednesday after a previous hearing in August last year was adjourned for a psychiatric report when he started to take his trousers down as part of a "mental health crisis".

But the defendant, originally from Eritrea in Africa, who has paranoid schizophrenia, was not in the dock, as it emerged he has since been transferred to Northside House, a mental health hospital, and no psychiatric report had been carried out.

Michael Clare, who represented Gebremeskel, confirmed the defendant has since "been moved to a mental hospital" and had been moved "quite some time ago".

Chris Youell, prosecuting, said Gebremeskel had been "howling at the moon" and "smearing faeces in his cell" but had since contacted police to "ask for his clothing back" which he hoped might be a more promising sign about his presentation.

Recorder Michael Turner adjourned the case until Friday, April 12, so that the psychiatric report can be compiled.

At the hearing in August Gebremeskel continually shouted out things like "hellfire" and "You White House Washington" during the hearing before being led back down to the cells when he started to pull up his top and tried to take his trousers down.

The block of flats in Balderstone Court had to be evacuated after Gebremeskel set fire to his bedding and left the property shortly before 6pm on October 22, 2022.

Balderston Court, Norwich (Image: Peter Walsh, Newsquest)

One neighbour reported hearing an explosion but no-one was hurt in the blaze which resulted in £8,397 worth of damage being caused.