by A man who set himself on fire when his wife refused ‘cuddles’ replied ‘why not?’ when asked why he started the fire.
Barry Sarjant, described in court as a ‘loving father and grandfather’, was drinking in the pub when he returned home and asked his wife for ‘cuddles’, reports the Liverpool Echo. But when she refused, the 57-year-old man started a fire at the bottom of the stairs in her family’s house.
He then armed himself with a baseball bat to stop her from trying to fire out, Liverpool Crown Court heard. When his daughter asked him why he started the fire, he softly said ‘why not?’.
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Sarjant then said ‘yes, but I’ll make it’ when he was told the police had been called. His wife escaped from the house on Leslie Road in St Helens when she managed to disarm him and hit him over the head.
The court heard yesterday (August 29) that Sarjant and his wife Joanne had been together for about 35 years and have two daughters together, but by the end of 2023 they were in the process of selling their house. Their relationship was said to have ‘started to sour’ in the months leading up to December 28 last year, which ended their marriage.
Michael O’Brien, prosecuting, described how the defendant returned home at around 10pm on that date, after having been out drinking. The couple then discussed selling the property in an upstairs bedroom before Sarjant asked for a couple.
The 57-year-old returned downstairs after Mrs Sarjant refused, but she then heard a ‘strange noise’ and went on the landing to find a fire had broken out at the bottom of the stairs. She ran to the kitchen to fill a bowl with water to put out the fire, but found her husband standing in the doorway armed with a bat.
Sarjant then pushed her backwards, causing the liquid to ‘spill everywhere’. Mrs Sarjant refilled the bowl and tried to get past her partner, but he pushed her onto the sofa in the living room and stood over her with his arms crossed before grabbing her around the neck and holding her down and telling her to behave. ‘.
She ‘scraped for help in fear of her life’, but was able to escape when she took the bat from him and hit him with it – throwing water over the fire then leaving the address and calling 999 One of the couple’s daughters, who lived in front of her parents, then found her father at the front door after he was aware of the incident.
Sarjant was said to be ‘shocked, drunk and bleeding’ from a head injury. He then said: “I have set the house on fire.”
When asked why he did so, he replied ‘why not?’. Sarjant then picked up the baseball bat and said: “I was going to hit her around the back of the head.”
After informing the police, he said ‘yeah, but I’ll make it’. The fire destroyed fur, a chest of drawers and some coats for the father of two and grandfather of four, as well as causing smoke damage to the floor, ceiling and carpet.
During the interview, he denied that he started the fire on purpose and claimed that it was ‘an accident’. He also said he did not attack Mrs Sarjant and said she attacked him with the bat.
Sarjant has no previous convictions. Paul Wood, defending, told the court: “The fire was put out relatively easily and the level of damage to the property was moderate. Things could have been a lot more serious than they are.
“This is a very sad case. It was a relationship the defendant had been in since he was 18. He clearly had a history of anxiety and depression.
“He was struggling to deal with the breakdown of a relationship with someone he clearly loved. He had real difficulties coming to terms with that, and turned to alcohol.
“He tried to get help. He was feeling suicidal. Family members had taken him to the doctors several times because of their concerns.
“He is ashamed and embarrassed for the danger he posed to others and for his behavior on the night in question. He knows it is unacceptable.
“This is coming from a man of positive character. He is now retired. He held down two jobs to provide for his family.
“When he came back from work, no doubt exhausted, he would spend time with his children. He is a loving and loving father and grandfather.
“He wants to put this terrible incident behind him. He wants to spend time with his grandchildren, who he clearly misses and loves.
“He has learned a very hard lesson at this stage in his life. He has had the decency to hold his hands up and accept what he has done and he has shown remorse.”
Sarjant – who wore a white shirt, black tie and glasses in the dock – admitted arson recklessly as to whether life was in danger and assault causing bodily harm. His supporters sat in tears in the public gallery as he was jailed for three years and given a 10-year restraining order.
Sentencing, Judge Stuart Driver KC said: “You set fire to a place near the bottom of the stairs when your wife was upstairs.
“In fact the danger was kept, because when she tried to put out the fire you attacked her to stop her. , which worsened your alcohol abuse.
“You struggled to come to terms with the end of a relationship, which lasted throughout your adult life. References really show a better side to your personality.”
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