An unemployed man who had not eaten for three days set fire to a job centre in order to get a hot meal in police custody, according to the Manchester Evening News.
An unemployed man who had not eaten for three days because his benefits had been stopped set fire to a job centre in order to get a hot meal in police custody, according to the Manchester Evening News.
Bee O’Brien, 49, set fire to the customer telephones at a jobcentre in Moss side after a row about his benefits.
O’Brien told police he would “commit a crime and get arrested. I need some food”.
According to the Evening News:
‘O’Brien, of Camelford Close, Hulme, admitted criminal damage, attempted arson, and using threatening words and behaviour when he appeared before Manchester magistrates.
Gina Clayton, defending, said: “His benefits had been stopped for some reason and he hadn’t eaten for three days. He was simply desperate for some food. He went to the job centre to get his payments and lost his temper.
“He was aware that if he was arrested he would have been given food at the police station.”’
O’Brien was given a 12 month community order and ordered to do 40 hours unpaid work.
Last month a disabled man took his own life after worrying about how he would manage once his benefits were stopped.
128 Responses to “Tory Britain: Man sets fire to job centre after not eating for three days”
Danny Beoulve
Nobody is saying what he did was right. Can you imagine going days without food, only to be told you will go longer without food because you’re being punished for not being able to find work? It’s not that people don’t want to work, it’s that too many people are out of work and immigrants get the best pick of jobs just so employers can look diverse.
If he steals, he will feed himself for one meal (maybe two) before he has to steal again. If he goes to prison, he is guaranteed 3 meals per day for as long as he is in prison. He will also get a job and a wage while he is in prison. When he leaves prison, he will have enough money to support himself, and will get help finding a long term job.
Yes it’s the wrong way to go, but when you’re that desperate, what would you do? Starve?
Charles Thomas
And bankers get financial bailouts with tax-payers money!
Hugh
Booo! Down with government, this wouldn’t be happening if it was still the good ol’ days, bring back the monarchy. I see lots of people suggesting solutions, but nobody is tackling the real problem, why do I have to talk to a FOREIGNER about my mobile phone service? I mean, seriously people. Lets get our shit together.
meesa
the riots where to do with the shooting of a man by police, not the government….. it goes to show even now some people really didnt get what that was all about.
meesa
the riots where to do with the shooting of a man by police, not the government….. it goes to show even now some people really didnt get what that was all about.