A FORMER alcoholic could be facing recall to prison after admitting setting the fire alarms off in the building where he was living.

John Richardson was arguing with the manager of building on High Northgate, Darlington, when he triggered the alarms to prove his point in May this year.

The 54-year-old believed that the fire alarm would only contact the fire brigade and fail to ring in the building to alert residents.

The defendant pleaded guilty to a charge of causing a false alarm of fire to be given when he appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe.

Paul Anderson, prosecuting, told County Durham and Darlington Magistrates' Court that Richardson admitted setting the alarm off at East View Guest House.

He said: "In police interview, he accepted he did call the fire brigade knowing there was no fire – he knows it was stupid."

In mitigation, Darren Brown said his client had struggled with alcohol abuse in the past but as part of his suspended sentence he has been working with probation to address the issue.

"There has been an ongoing dispute between the manager and Mr Richardson," he said. "He said the fire alarms wouldn't sound within the building, he was saying it was a health and safety issue.

"He pressed the button to prove a point and that's what happened – the alarm activated and alerted the fire brigade but didn't go off in the building. When the fire brigade arrived he held his hands up straightaway and accepted that he had acted foolishly."

The court heard how Richardson is already serving a 15-month suspended sentence for arson after deliberately setting fire to a previous flat and burglary.

He added: "He set fire to his flat when he was drunk. He has a longstanding issue with alcohol but he is now a recovering alcoholic. He was not intoxicated at the time of this incident."

The court heard from the probation that Richardson, now of Pensbury Street, was working well with the service and had attended almost 50 appointments but there was still a long way to go.

Magistrates decided to send the case to Teesside Crown Court where the suspended sentence was issued.

Richardson was released on conditional bail and will appear at the court for sentence at a date yet to be confirmed.