Ashington Arsonist Jailed After Setting Fire to His Own Home

Ashington: A man named Ryan Rushford has been jailed for setting fire to his own house. This happened last July on Chestnut Street. His neighbors had already dealt with his loud music and rude behavior.

Just two weeks before the fire, he made some strange comments. He joked about smelling something burning and even said he thought he had a bomb under his bed. Then, on July 13, he went ahead and set his house on fire.

A neighbor saw thick black smoke pouring out of his living room window and rushed to alert others. Prosecutors said Rushford was seen smashing bottles and threatening to burn his house down. After starting the fire, he called 999 to report it himself.

He even told the operator that if he didn’t go to jail, he’d do it again, but this time, he’d make sure it was worse. When police arrested him, he said he planned to set it on fire again when he got back.

Investigators found that the fire started at the bottom of the stairs. It spread quickly, causing smoke damage throughout the house. Rushford had rented the property from Home Group, which had received many complaints about him.

He has a long history of trouble with the law, with 80 previous convictions. He pleaded guilty to arson and was sentenced to 42 months in prison. His lawyer mentioned that he struggles with mental health issues, including delusions about being poisoned.