Matthew Draper (Image: South Wales Police)
Last Updated: 56 seconds ago
A 40-year-old man has been sentenced after setting fire to a supported accommodation hostel in Swansea – shortly after telling staff he wanted to return to prison for “three square meals a day” and access to a gym.
Matthew Draper was handed 27 months in prison at Swansea Crown Court after previously admitting a charge of arson.
What Draper told staff
The court heard that Draper had been living at a hostel on The Strand in Swansea city centre, operated by The Wallich charity for people with “complex needs”. On January 24 this year, he told his support worker he wanted to go back to prison, citing regular meals and gym facilities as his reasons.
The fire
Prosecutor Hannah George told the court that shortly before 4.45pm that same day, Draper used an aerosol as an accelerant to set alight lockers positioned against an external wall of the hostel. The blaze spread rapidly and reached a window approximately 15ft above ground level, though the flames did not make it inside the building.
Draper remained at the scene and watched the fire he had started.
Staff at the hostel raised the alarm and contacted the emergency services. Firefighters from a nearby station arrived almost immediately, the building was evacuated, and the blaze was brought under control.
Arrest and interview
Draper was arrested and gave “no comment” responses throughout his police interview.
Previous offending
The court was told Draper, formerly of Geiriol Road, Townhill, Swansea, but now of The Strand, Swansea, has 21 previous convictions spanning 61 offences, the “majority” of which relate to theft and similar matters. His most recent conviction, from October 2023, involved shoplifting women’s clothing from the Matalan store in Cwmdu, Swansea, and failing to surrender to a court.
Defence
Andrew Evans, representing Draper, told the court it was to be hoped his client was motivated to “deal with the issues that have dogged him for much of his life”.
Sentencing
With credit applied for his guilty plea, Draper was sentenced to 27 months’ imprisonment. He will serve up to half that term in custody before being released on licence to complete the remainder in the community.
