Serial Arsonist Faces Life Sentence For Burning Listed Building

A man accused of torching a Grade II listed church in Middlesbrough has been warned he could face a life sentence for the crime.

The church on Millbank Street, South Bank, had been previously used as a community centre and a community centre but at the time of the crime lay empty.

The fire devastated the building, destroying the entire upper part of the roof and causing one of the gable walls to be left in a dangerous condition.

Stefan Geary, 49, claimed to have been staying in the building at the time and it was the result of an attempt to keep warm which got out of hand, although prosecutors also noted he had admitted to being the “arsonist” to firefighters.

Mr Geary has had a history of arson dating back over 25 years. In 1995 the Hartlepool native set fire to a building he had decorated in a payment dispute, receiving a three-year prison sentence as a result.

He made national news reports after a spree of arson attacks in Tyneside in 2003, setting fire to Christ Church in Jarrow, another Grade II listed building, as well as two schools, calling the fire brigade himself so he could watch firefighters tackle the blaze.

He received 15 years for his crimes before it was reduced to 10 on appeal.

Because of his long list of arsons, Judge Jonathan Carroll warned that Mr Geary could face a mandatory life sentence.

The Millbank Street former presbytery has been dated as far back as 1881 and has seen previous use as a probation hostel, as well as a community centre before being abandoned.

The Grade II structure had been set for a listed building restoration which would have converted the building into a hostel again, but ultimately these plans were rejected for safeguarding concerns.