Easington Lane fatal fire: Declan Lancaster sentenced to life imprisonment

Declan Lancaster, who admitted causing the blaze which resulted in the death of Patryk Mortimer, who lived in the Manor House premises in Easington Lane, will have to serve a minimum of five years before he can apply for parole.

Passing sentence at Newcastle Crown court, Judge Paul Sloan said Lancaster posed a "high level of danger to the public".

• Watch the moment Declan Lancaster is arrested

He said: "Having considered all the evidence I have no double whatsoever there is a significant risk to members of the public of serious harm being occasioned by the defendant.

"In my judgement the seriousness of the offences involving the unlawful killing of one person and as well as endangering lives of several others is such as to justify the imposition of a sentence for life. 

"(This is) all of the more so considered in the context of the defendant's long-standing and continued fascinating with fires, including setting a number of fires since the age of six."

The judge said there was no reliable estimate of the time Lancaster would remain a danger and, though the minimum sentence is five years, "in all likelihood he will remain incarcerated for a considerable time before the parole board considers he no longer represents a danger the public". 

Lancaster who constantly disrupted the judge during his sentencing was removed after shouting out "you are p**** me off. Tell me how much I've got."

Lancaster, 24, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty at a previous hearing to manslaughter and arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

The court was told Mr Mortimer, 39, a Polish national, was found unconscious in the early hours of November 3, 2018, after flames had engulfed the High Street premises. Manor house was used as a hostel for the homeless, in particular people subject to probation supervision.

Lancaster had been living there for a couple of months following release from a prison sentence, while Mr Mortimer had been living there for about a week.

Earlier in the evening in question Lancaster was involved in a disturbance outside another resident's door. The man had called police saying he had to hold onto the door to stop it coming off its hinges. 

Police attended and spoke to the man who barricaded himself in. Lancaster later returned to his room in another part of the building "looking on edge". This was because shortly after police had left the area he had used a lighter set fire to items in cupboard next to that man's room. 

The judge said: "I have no doubt that a following the earlier disturbance, that when you set the fire you had that resident specifically in mind to scare and frighten him, possibly because you believed him to be a sex offender. 
"Mr Mortimer was an innocent victim." 
Prosecutor Matthew Brook said, when it was realised Mr Mortimer was missing, Lancaster joined others in banging on his window to alert him. 

He said: "Mr Mortimer came to window but did  not climb through but tried to exit by the corridor.

The thick smoke overpowered him before he could reach the fire exit."

It appeared he struck his head as he tried to crawl out, resulting in a laceration and probably concussion and he succumbed to the effects of the fire. 

When fire crew arrived they found him  unconscious just inside the fire escape door. They attempted made to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at 3.49.

When intially interviewed by police Lancaster said "Do you think I am going to burn my house down? do you think I'm going to murder my pal. Do you think I am f**** mad.

While serving a subsequent jail sentence, Lancaster told prison officers he wanted to explain himself to the police, saying: "I am sick of the guilt. I am sick of bottling it in."

Nicholas Lumley, mitigating, said it was a "senseless" loss of a man's life, for which Lancaster was remorseful.

A report for the court described Lancaster as a man of "limited intelligence", he added.

In a victim impact statement Mortimer's mother described him as a "very intelligent man who travelled the world and became fluent in six or seven languages.

"He was a very thoughtful person, helpful to others and putting the needs of others before himself. 

"Regrettably later in life he became reliant on drink and drugs and his life took a downward spiral."

Detective Sergeant Steven Brown, of Northumbria Police, said: “No sentence today can take away the pain and anguish that Patryk’s family have suffered over the last two-and-a-half years.

“My thoughts remain with them at this devastating time and I sincerely hope that today’s outcome can offer them some degree of comfort, knowing that Patryk’s killer has been brought to justice.

“Declan Lancaster’s actions were both dangerous and reckless. He cruelly took away Patryk’s future – and so easily could have led to the deaths of many others inside the Manor House that night.

“As Patryk’s family and friends desperately sought answers, for nearly two years Lancaster concealed his dark secret and deprived them of any kind of closure.

“He knowingly and willingly started that fire, and the final insult came as he repeatedly tried to convince police that he was Patryk’s best friend and played no part in his death.

“He proved himself to be a danger to society and there’s no doubt that the streets of Northumbria are a safer place as a result of him being brought to justice and put behind bars.
"I welcome today’s sentence and would like to thank everybody who played their part in helping to ensure Lancaster was brought before the court to answer his crimes – from the community who assisted us at every step through to all the officers who played their part in this investigation.

“Today, it is clear that all your hard work has been worth it in securing justice for Patryk’s family.” 

Manor House had been purchased by a partnership comprising family members. in 2014 the famkiliy was persuaded by the council to allow the property to be used as accommodation for the homeless. 

The fire caused catastrophic damage. The family thought they were insured, but the policy was subsequently voided and they werfe forced by the bank to sell, leaving the family members with a debt of £600,000, which they are trying to repay.

The family buisiness has been ruined. 

The court heard Lancaster had 23 convictions for 36 offences.

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