Man jailed for burning down supported housing unit

A man has been given a 16-month prison sentence for burning down a supported accommodation unit in Cardiff and causing over £2m of damage.

Lee Jakes, 33, had admitted arson after setting fire to Dyfrig House on Fitzhamon Embankment shortly before midnight on 4 March 2025.

Nobody was injured, but all 21 residents were evacuated during the blaze, in which parts of the roof of the building were damaged.

Cardiff Crown Court was shown CCTV footage of Jakes, who was a resident at the time, setting fire to a skirting board outside his room.

The court heard the fire was initially believed to be accidental, but CCTV of the incident later led to Jakes being arrested two-and-a-half months later, on 20 May.

Images played in court showed him igniting a lighter before pressing the flame against a wall and a skirting board, before walking away.

In a prepared statement following his arrest, Jakes said he had not intended to start the fire, but was trying to burn a cockroach he had seen.

The court heard damage to the building had been "extensive", with initial estimates put at £2.2m, but that insurance companies had already paid out over £3.3m related to the incident.

Sentencing Jakes, Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke said she had "questioned the prosecution as to why you haven't been charged for a more serious offence" given the "reckless" nature of his actions and the damage caused.

She added Jakes, who was under the influence of drugs at the time, had acted "without thought for the risk you were causing", or the vulnerable people who were affected.

Jakes, whom the court heard had an extensive criminal record, had previously pleaded guilty to one count of arson.

He was sentenced to one year and four months, at least half of which will be served in custody, and ordered to pay costs of £187.