A convicted criminal started a fire when armed police arrived to raid his flat. Shaylon McCalla, 23, who has previous convictions for firearms and offensive weapons, threatened to kill himself and set the house on fire, Nottingham Crown Court heard on Tuesday (April 11)
Derbyshire Police and Derbyshire Fire and Rescue Service were seen in Oxford Street, Ripley, at around 10am on Thursday, September 29. Police were there to arrest him on suspicion of possessing a firearm - but it turned out he had done nothing wrong, the court heard.
Police used tasers to arrest him after he set fire to a coat, which spread to the floor underneath, in shared accommodation over a shop. He was arrested and taken into custody, and went on to plead guilty to arson being reckless.
A spokesperson for Derbyshire police had said: "Officers carried out a warrant at a property on Oxford Street at Ripley just before 10am this morning, Thursday 29 September. Armed police officers were involved in the search, and one man was arrested on suspicion of possession of a weapon and arson.
"There will be a continued police presence in the area while further enquiries are carried out and further reassurance patrols."
Dog units were also pictured at the scene, it was reported by Derbyshire Live.
Judge Stuart Rafferty KC told McCalla he had moved away from Derby and was living at this address. "You were clearly distressed for whatever reason whe police came, and angry with them, and probably angry with yourself as well, because there you were trying to get away from your past and there they are reminding you of your past all over again," said the judge.
"It is in those circumstances you lit the fire. Save for a criminal damage offence a long time ago, you have never started a fire".
He ordered a previous suspended prison sentence continue, and imposed a community order for 18 months for the arson, and 30 rehabilitation activity days.
Read next:
- More than 60 criminals locked up before Nottingham courts this year
- Schoolboy tells how he was arrested at school at 13 and faced exclusion
- Shock in 'vibrant' Nottingham suburb after stabbing outside church
- Boots unveils 'world first' new No7 Future Renew products to reverse skin damage
- Police clean 'obscene and offensive' graffiti from several homes on new Hucknall housing estate
