Failed magic spell sparked blaze at Dudley flat
A man trying out a 'magic spell' in his bid to make new friends set fire to a flat in Dudley instead.
Duane Thurstance was given instructions at a magic shop to set fire to a life-size cardboard cut-out of a television character which he did at the premises, in Broad Street, on July 25 last year.
But when it did not work, the 26-year-old who has mental health issues and cerebral palsy, walked out of the building in Broad Street and failed to tell anyone what he had done, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told on Friday.
When the room erupted into flames, other residents in the block of flats were forced to flee to safety.
The property suffered £3,000 damage as a result of the fire on July 25 last year.
Thurstance, who admitted an offence of arson reckless as to whether life was endangered at an earlier hearing.
He was found by police a short distance away from the scene after people in the area provided a description of him.
Mr Howard Searle, prosecuting, said: "He admitted that he had started the fire and told the officers he was practising witchcraft to obtain a friend.
"He started a fire so that an appropriate image would appear to him. That didn't happen so he left it.
"It was a life-size cardboard cut out of a character from a TV series."
He told Wolverhampton Crown Court that at the time the defendant was in breach of a community order for a robbery offence committed in 2013.
Mr Stephen Cadwaladr, defending, said: "This offence arose after he was told by people who should have known better, at a magic shop, that the spell would help him to meet people he could call friends.
"It consisted of setting down candles in circles and burning a small photo of somebody in a pot placed in the middle.
"Needless to say it was not successful.
"He says he only intended to singe the cardboard cut-out.
"In this particular case I submit that his culpability is not very high.
"He is receiving effective treatment from two NHS nurses.
"He needs structure in his life and is getting that at the moment.
"His problem is that he is vulnerable."
Judge John Walsh said it was a 'troubling' case.
He sentenced Thurstance, now of Wilbraham Court, Moat Road, Walsall, to a three-year community order.