A 28-year-old man faces jail after pleading guilty to arson following a devastating fire that destroyed Labour MP Sharon Hodgson's constituency office.
Joshua Oliver's plea was entered at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court today on the basis that it was reckless rather than intentional - the Crown did not accept its basis.
The fire gutted the entire building, which housed the MP's office, a small charity for people with very rare genetic diseases and an NHS mental health service for veterans.
Shocking aerial images previously showed the extent of the damage caused to the Washington and Gateshead South MP's office, with its roof almost entirely destroyed.
The court heard Oliver has been living in a tent nearby.
