Middlesbrough man jailed for arson at a police station.

“Our police stations are visited by victims of crime and other members of the public who need help and advice from police, as well as colleagues from partner organisations, and as such they should be a safe space for all. 

“As well as this, our officers and staff should be able to work in the confidence that they’re safe whilst at work therefore I welcome the sentence passed to Bishop for his completely unacceptable actions that day.”

These were the words of Superintendent Marc Anderson, Middlesbrough’s District Commander as a 33-year-old Middlesbrough man was jailed for setting a fire at the town’s Middlehaven police station.

An officer driving along Bridge Street West just before 1.45am on 31^st August last year noticed that the front of the building appeared to be on fire. 

He immediately passed the information on over the police radio system and two officers put the fire out with an extinguisher from a police van.

Bishop was seen sitting down nearby and he admitted setting the fire, claiming it was to gain attention from officers inside the police station so he was arrested on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life.

Today at Teesside Crown Court, Bishop of Laurel Avenue was jailed for 16 months.