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.
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128 Responses to “Tory Britain: Man sets fire to job centre after not eating for three days”
Sam
What are the odds that the Conservative response will be ‘stop police stations from serving hot meals to prisoners’?
Neil
I’ve worked and paid my taxes and NI. I’m waiting to have my toes amputated and can barely walk and not been able to wear shoes for three years. They’ve stopped my money because my wife is self employed and works over 24 hours a week yet all she can afford to take out of the business is £80 per week and get £63 a week in working tax credit. How the hell are the two of us supposed to survive on £163 per week with council tax, rent and other things to pay. The ‘CON’servative party are a fucking joke and the cause of many suicides.
jamie
Sorry but as someone on JSA and been stopped a few time once recently this guy is a legend shame it was not the york job centre but the mount of times ive felt like burning it down to the ground myself in my eyes he dint burn enough of it lol
james
Job center stopped my money for not applying for a job in London when I live in Birmingham even after I explained the situation to my supervisor
james
Job center stopped my money for not applying for a job in London when I live in Birmingham even after I explained the situation to my supervisor