Copyright walesonline
A teenager with mental health difficulties set fire to rubbish in a courtyard of crisis accommodation and used racist language towards support workers. When attempts were made to stop him, he told the officers "I'll set you on f****** fire". Calvin Evans-Nash, 19, had been a resident at Tir Avon in Treorchy since October last year. The accommodation included three other residents who were vulnerable and had learning difficulties. The defendant lived in the basement of the property due to concerns about his behaviour. A sentencing hearing at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday heard the defendant had been diagnosed for conditions such as ADHD, OCD and attachment issues. F or the latest court reports sign up to our crime newsletter . There had been a number of previous incidents where he had caused damage and assaulted staff members. At 1.45am on August 14, Evans-Nash asked for a drink and was let into the kitchen area. He then took a cloth and ignited it on the cooker, before taking it outside and setting fire to piles of rubbish. The defendant shouted at two support workers: "I'll set you on f****** fire". The fire alarm was set off after Evans-Nash set a fire close to the building, and the emergency services were called. The defendant held a napkin lit on fire to the support workers and said he would burn them with it. He added: "Nothing will happen as I'm British and you are black". After the fire brigade arrived, Evans-Nash ran back into the building and closed the door behind him but he eventually left staff in. Evans-Nash, of no fixed abode, later pleaded guilty to arson. The court heard he had 12 previous convictions for offences including criminal damage. In mitigation, Clare Wilks said her client's mental disorders reduced his culpability and described the incident as "unfortunate but not the worst of its kind". Sentencing, Judge Shomon Khan said: "Starting fires in this way is very concerning. It can cause so much harm to so many people." Evans-Nash was sentenced to six months detention in a young offenders institute. Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here . We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice .
