Ex-rugby player jailed for torching homeless charity room

A former high-level rugby player has been handed an extended prison sentence after setting fire to his room at a Swansea homeless charity – a blaze that could ultimately cost the organisation £200,000.

Christopher Sayce, 42, was living in supported accommodation run by The Wallich on Carlton Terrace in Mount Pleasant when he ignited the fire on 16 November last year. The 14-room property housed vulnerable residents, all of whom had to be evacuated to safety.

Swansea Crown Court heard how Sayce asked staff for a cigarette around 3:30pm but was refused. Just 15 minutes later, the building’s fire alarm sounded. As staff rushed upstairs to investigate, they passed Sayce heading in the opposite direction whilst the blaze took hold in his attic room.

The fire “destroyed” his room and caused “significant” damage to a ceiling joist, with investigators determining it had been started by applying a naked flame to clothing or bedding on a chair beside the bed.

Shortly afterwards, at 4:21pm, Sayce himself rang 999 to report what he’d done. He told the operator he was “withdrawing from alcohol very badly” but claimed staff wouldn’t help him. Police found him sitting on a bench at St Mary’s Square and arrested him.

The direct damage totalled £45,000, but when factoring in the cost of finding alternative accommodation for the other 13 residents across various Swansea locations, The Wallich faces a potential bill of £200,000.

Defence barrister Jon Tarrant told the court his client had been consuming “a huge amount” of alcohol and had “given up on life” at the time. He said he knew Sayce “of old” and that the defendant had played rugby to a “very high standard”. Since being remanded in custody, Sayce has remained alcohol-free and returned to regular training.

Judge Huw Rees described the defendant’s actions as “irrational” and noted the “pointlessness” of starting the fire only to immediately report it. However, he said he was obliged to consider the issue of dangerousness, particularly given Sayce’s 20 previous convictions for 38 offences – including criminal damage being reckless as to whether life was endangered, arson endangering life, and assault.

Sayce, now of Grafog Street, Port Tennant, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered. He received an extended sentence of six years and four months – comprising 40 months in prison followed by three years on licence. He must serve two-thirds of the custodial element before being released.