Pair rescued after inmate started fire

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 Court and crime reporter

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 Pullling, prosecuting, told the court that on December 12 last year Carlo Shepherd 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.

The court heard the defendant was placed in a cell with a man who was spending his first night in custody, and the cellmate noted Shepherd was "agitated" and talked about getting out of prison that night. The defendant was also noted to be repeatedly pressing the button in the cell to get the attention of staff, with staff who attended telling him he was withdrawing and would be okay.

The prosecutor said later that day 45-year-old Shepherd placed a bin in the toilet in the cell, stuffed blankets into the receptacle, and used a vape to light it.