Luton man pleads guilty to setting fire to homeless victim

At around 4.15pm on Wednesday, January 1, David Weir, 53, of Park Street, Luton, sprayed a flammable liquid from a washing up liquid bottle over a homeless man who was sitting outside a fast food restaurant.

He then used a lighter to ignite the accelerant.

Nearby members of the public acted promptly and extinguished the flames, before disarming Weir and calling the emergency services.

The victim was initially taken to a specialist burns unit in Essex, and has since made a recovery.

Whilst in custody, Weir was abusive and threatening to officers. He was further arrested for assault on an emergency worker, after spitting at a police constable and threatening to urinate on him.

At Luton Crown Court today (Monday), Weir pleaded guilty to GBH with intent and assault on an emergency worker.

Detective Constable Gary Hatton, investigating, said: “Weir deliberately left home that day with a bottle full of accelerant, and used it to seriously endanger the life of another man.

“We are truly grateful for the intervention of those passers-by who, without fear for their own safety, put out the flames and saved the victim from further harm, then confronted Weir and remained at the scene until he was arrested.

“Violence of this nature will never be tolerated, either on our streets or towards emergency workers. Weir can now expect a custodial sentence where we hope he can take time to consider his behaviour.”

Weir will be sentenced at Luton Crown Court on 1 April.