ARSON charges have been dropped against a man who inadvertently started a fire while attempting to produce cannabis oil.

Dean Day was badly burned in the blaze which spread from his girlfriend’s flat to a neighbouring property, in Dunelm Walk, Peterlee, causing an estimated £88,000 worth of damage.

Durham Crown Court heard that Day was in an induced coma in Sunderland Royal Hospital for three weeks after the incident, on February 10 last year, suffering severe burns to his hands and face.

His girlfriend, whose home Day was visiting at the time, was treated at the scene for smoke inhalation.

Michael Graham, prosecuting, said the blaze badly damaged Day’s girlfriend’s flat, rented from East Durham Homes, and the adjoining privately-owned premises.

The court was told that following investigation the fire was believed to have started during the process of Day extracting pollen from cannabis leaves using a butane gas cylinder.

One theory mentioned at a previous hearing was the possibility that gas vapours spread and came into contact with the flame on the domestic boiler at the property.

Day, 30, of Station House, Murton, denied two counts of arson, one each relating to his girlfriend’s home and the adjoining premises.

he admitted further charges of producing and possessing a controlled drug, relating to the cannabis oil and Mr Graham said the prosecution would not be pursuing the two counts of arson.

He told the court Day appeared to have grown the cannabis plants from which he was trying to extract the pollen.

As there were only between 14 and 16 plants found among the debris after the fire it was only considered enough for personal use and not sufficient for commercial supply.

Judge Christopher Prince imposed six months’ community supervision and ordered Day to pay £150 costs.

He also recorded formal not guilty verdicts relating to the arson charges.