Prisoner put cellmate’s life in danger after setting fire to bin

AN INMATE set fire to his cell forcing prison officers to don breathing apparatus to rescue him and his terrified cellmate from the blaze and choking smoke.

- JASON EVANS

Swansea Crown Court heard that due to the confined space of a cell, a fire and the toxic smoke it produced could be fatal to those locked inside in as little as eight minutes.

Dean Pulling, prosecuting, told the court that on December 12 last year the defendant was remanded into custody by magistrates having pleaded guilty to a string of shoplifting offences in Swansea.

On arrival at HMP Swansea, Shepherd was medically assessed and was found to be suffering from the symptoms of alcohol and drug withdrawal, but apart from that was fine.