Burglar set fire 
to hospitals 
as diversion

Homeless Thomas Ashcroft, 35, set the fires to cause a distraction before rifling through tills to help fund his £250-a-day crack cocaine and heroin addiction.

He admitted arson and burglary at the Kent and Canterbury Hospital and the Hilton Hotel in Sheffield on August 30 and July 15, respectively.

Ashcroft also pleaded guilty to the same crimes at the Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent on August 29.

He asked for eight further matters to be considered relating to arsons and burglaries at other hospitals, hotels and a visitor attraction.

At Canterbury Crown Court, prosecutor Martin Yale said Ashcroft telephoned police to hand himself in on August 31, telling them he was subject to prison recall.

In police interview, Ashcroft said he travelled around Britain by train, setting fires in buildings which had smoke detectors so that the alarm would be raised quickly.

Sentencing was adjourned until today after the judge said he wanted to consider his options.