Storrington Waitrose arsonist placed in hospital care

Michael Spruhan, 53, of Windmill Copse, Storrington, was sentenced by Judge Christopher Parker QC at Chichester Crown Court this afternoon (Wednesday December 9).

He had previously pleaded guilty to arson while being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Judge Parker sentenced him to a hospital order with a restriction order.

Spruhan will be kept in a mental health hospital until a tribunal decides he is ready for release, Judge Parker said.

He had denied the more serious charge of arson with intent to endanger life, and was found not guilty by a jury in October.

During the trial, the court heard that he had entered the Waitrose store in Storrington on April 29 and poured petrol over his head before striking a cigarette lighter.

Paul Walker, defending, said Spruhan had no previous convictions.

“These events came very much out of the blue,” he said. “His partner gave evidence that although he’d been acting very strangely, nothing like this had ever happened before.

“You know about his lack of convictions, clean criminal record.

“He’d had a mental breakdown, and what happened that day clearly happened as a result of that.”

Sentencing, Judge Parker told Spruhan: “Up until the end of April of this year, for 52 years you had led not just a blameless life, but an entirely upstanding life as a loyal and hard-working man.

“It’s quite plain however that shortly after you lost your very long term employment you entered a period of severe and clinical depression, and you suffered from a mental disorder, diagnosed by Dr Ardron as psychotic depression.”

He added: “This offence was committed entirely because of your mental disorder, without which you wouldn’t have committed any malicious act towards anybody at all.”

He said this meant it would not be appropriate to send Spruhan to prison.

Forensic psychiatrists had assessed Spruhan as being very unlikely to re-offend.

However, Judge Parker said the very low risk had to be weighed against the potential for extremely serious harm if another incident did happen.

He added: “I have to acknowledge the bravery of the various witnesses who gave evidence at the trial and who intervened to prevent what could have been a very grave catastrophe.”

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be among the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make our website your homepage at www.wscountytimes.co.uk

2 Like our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/wscountytimes

3 Follow us on Twitter @wscountytimes

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!

The County Times – always the first with your local news.

Be part of it.