Liverpool’s top judge demanded to know why an inmate was able to set fire to two cells at Walton prison – then freed to commit more crimes.
Tony Ormesher, 50, of St Andrew Road, Anfield, used a contraband lighter to burn the bedding in his cell at HMP Liverpool.
But Liverpool Crown Court heard it wasn’t taken off him by prison guards and he then set fire to a second cell.
Despite these offences he was still released from jail a month later and went to homeless charity, the Whitechapel Centre, where he hurled vile sexual abuse at female volunteers.
Two days afterwards he breached an ASBO banning him from Liverpool city centre by stealing cider from Iceland in Williamson Square and punching a pregnant shop assistant.
Ormesher tried to escape on a tour bus before spitting in the faces of three Merseytravel workers, who restrained him until police arrived.
He was jailed for three years after admitting two counts of arson, six assaults, abusive behaviour, theft and two ASBO breaches.
Desmond Lennon, prosecuting, said Ormesher was serving a four-month sentence when he set his bedding alight at around 7pm on July 4 last year.
Prison guards were alerted to the fire, which caused superficial damage to the single cell, but the lighter was not confiscated.
At around 9.30pm, thick black smoke was seen coming from his second cell and firefighters attended the jail.
Ormesher suffered light smoke inhalation and the blaze caused up to £3,000 of damage.
Judge Clement Goldstone, QC, said: “Is it the position that having set fire to one cell he was then able to set fire to another cell with the same lighter?
“I would like a report on how this was able to happen, because it appears to me there was a complete failure of basic security on the part of the prison.”
Pic Andrew Teebay. Stock pic. Judge Clement Goldstone QC,Honorary Recorder at Liverpool Crown Court.
Prison officials referred the matter to the police, but Ormesher was released on August 7, before he was interviewed by officers.
The Recorder of Liverpool added this “defied belief” and requested two written reports from the prison’s governor.
On August 13, Ormesher went to the Whitechapel Centre, in Langsdale Street, asking for travel tokens so he could visit his probation officer.
When he was told they were not available he threw a cup of cold water at a female volunteer and called her a “f***ing s***”.
He also hurled vile abuse at two other people.
On August 15 he went to Iceland at around 10.45am and tried to steal £14 of food and cider.
When challenged by the shop’s manager he hit him in the head, punched a pregnant worker in the face and attacked another woman.
Exterior shot of HMP Liverpool prison in Hornby Road, Walton
Mr Lennon said: “Officers from Merseytravel tried to stop him running onto a tour bus.“He was restrained and spat in the face of each of them. They went to hospital as a precaution.”
Alaric Walmsley, defending, said his client pleaded guilty at the earliest possible opportunity.
Judge Goldstone accepted Ormesher suffered from mental health problems and was a man of good character until six years ago, when he started committing anti-social and dishonest crime.
He said: “You are 50 and you present something of a conundrum, because until August 2010 you had never been in trouble before.
“Since then you have sadly more than made up for lost time, because you have amassed an appalling criminal record.”
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/