A HOMELESS Carlisle man who was desperate to have shelter set fire to his suitcase so the police would arrest him.

When officers told 37-year-old Jonathan Breen that damaging his own property was not an offence, he told them: “Then I’m make it easy: I’ll start smashing windows and I’ll stab somebody.”

At the city’s Rickergate court, Breen admitted using threatening behaviour.

Prosecutor George Shelley told Carlisle’s Rickergate court that British Transport Police were sent Carlisle Railway Station at 5.30pm on November 28 after Breen walked into a car park and dropped his suitcase into a skip before setting fire to it.

When he was challenged about what he had done, he told the police officers: “I started the fire to be arrested.”

After he had made the stabbing threat, he told the officers he wanted to be in jail. “He said he would commit further crimes as he wanted to be arrested,” said Mr Shelley. “He said he would use a corkscrew and stood with his hands in his pockets.

“He refused to take his hands out of his pockets when asked and so he was arrested.”

Breen confirmed that he was homeless and did not want to live on the streets for months while he was waiting to get a house. “He said he was unwilling to do that and would rather go to prison.”

The defendant told District Judge John Temperley: “I was not getting any help from the councils or anybody else.  I figured that jail was better than sleeping on the streets.

"That was all I had.”

Judge Temperley told the defendant: “You are not charged with an imprisonable offence so the worst I can do is fine you – but you are not in a position to pay.”

The District Judge imposed a 12-month conditional discharge, which means Breen will not be punished provided he stays out of trouble for that period. He will have to pay a £26 victim surcharge.

The charity Shelter offers advice and information about homelessness. You can find out more by logging on to their Where to Find Help page.