A Sudanese man seeking asylum in Britain has been sentenced to two years and seven months imprisonment after deliberately setting fire to his room at a city centre accommodation block in Bradford.
Mohammed Abdalla, aged 28, faced justice at Bradford Crown Court for the arson offence, which occurred at The Bradford Hotel on Hall Ings.
His long-term prospects of remaining in the United Kingdom now appear precarious.
The court was informed that a member of hotel staff rushed to extinguish the flames using only his bare hands.
The presiding judge noted that the employee’s swift intervention had prevented potentially catastrophic consequences for the building’s occupants.
At the time of the incident, the six-storey establishment housed between 150 and 160 individuals across its first five floors, with the uppermost level unoccupied.
Ten employees were present on the premises.
The prosecution outlined how Abdalla had been scheduled to vacate the premises on October 31 the previous year due to behavioural issues unrelated to the fire.
Following instruction to leave the hotel, he had waited in the reception area with his belongings for several hours before requesting permission to return briefly to his accommodation.
Upon entering his second-floor room, a fire alarm was activated within minutes.
Security personnel discovered flames had been started deliberately in the vicinity of the television or desk area, with an open flame identified as the ignition source.
When staff reached the landing, they found Abdalla seated in a chair, appearing cheerful.
Despite being apprehended, Abdalla maintained his innocence, claiming security personnel had previously confiscated his lighter.
However, a subsequent search revealed the lighter still in his possession.
A fire investigation specialist established that the blaze had been ignited deliberately.
One employee sustained respiratory difficulties while attempting to suppress the flames, with his efforts captured on the establishment’s surveillance system.
Financial losses included property damage valued at £4,376.32, along with £280 for repairs and £1,000 covering staff overtime incurred during the emergency response.
The defendant, who appeared remotely from HMP Leeds and had no prior criminal record in Britain, eventually entered a guilty plea to arson with reckless disregard for whether human life was endangered.
The defence highlighted that Abdalla had arrived from Sudan in April 2025.
Ten days prior to the fire, he had attended an accident and emergency department expressing mental health concerns.
On the day of the offence, after being instructed to depart and waiting extensively in reception, he returned to his room where the fire originated.
Counsel for Abdalla stated his client had experienced trauma in his home country and was not in a sound mental state during the events.
He noted that Abdalla was now receiving psychiatric medication while incarcerated and reported significant improvement in his psychological condition, which had contributed to his actions.
Custody was acknowledged as the only viable sentencing option given the circumstances.
In her sentencing remarks, Recorder Ella Anderson commended the staff member’s courageous response, stating his actions demonstrated genuine concern for the welfare of everyone present.
She emphasised the gravity of the situation, noting that 150 to 160 residents and ten staff members had been exposed to danger.
She remarked that had the employee not acted so promptly, the outcome could have been far worse.
Addressing the defendant with translation assistance, she stated that his deliberate actions had placed all occupants at serious risk.
She sentenced him to two years and seven months, with half to be served behind bars.
Regarding his asylum status, she indicated uncertainty about what might transpire at the point of potential early release.