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”
m montgomery
i hope you appealed
m montgomery
didn’t you know we are all scroungers not worth a thought ,the poor are bleeding this country dry with our £26,000 a year benefits our giant tvs ,drink, fags and a council house roof over our heads that the TAX PAYER has to pay for .its a wonder with this governments rhetoric we have the cheek to put our heads out the door never mind go on a march .
m montgomery
same here im a carer worrying when the cuts are going to hit us next and dreading the brown envelope coming through the letter box iv looked after my husband for eighteen years since his accident ( brain injury) im no skiver iv worked bloody hard teaching him to be able to do things again like eat, talk, go to the toilet walk some and still he is left with problems .i would like five minutes with IAN DUNCAN SMITH
m montgomery
its called frustration and not knowing where to turn ,it may of been stupid but the way people on benefits are being treated at the moment is nothing short of inhuman, in some cases people are being sanctioned for the flimsiest reasons then you have no money the council wont pay your rent or council tax ( yes they should but councils are playing as dirty as the benefits office ) until you have been there you cant really talk can you
Erik Bluddax
Sell your computer and buy a moped..