Mobility scooter arsonist has sentencing deferred

A man who has pleaded guilty to stealing and then setting a mobility scooter alight in Lowestoft will have to wait four months to find out what will happen to him.

Scene of a mobility scooter fire near The Volunteer pub on London Road North, Lowestoft. Picture: Nick Butcher - Credit: Nick Butcher

Christopher Brooks, of St Johns Road, Lowestoft, pleaded guilty to charges of arson, theft of a scooter, and three other unrelated offences of using threatening or abusive language, common assault, and assaulting a police officer.

Brooks, who has a history of mental illness, had been held in custody since the incident with the scooter on London Road North on Monday, May 6.

At Great Yarmouth Magistrates' Court on Wednesday, June 6, his sentencing was deferred in order to allow him to be diagnosed and find treatment for his mental illness in order to help the court in its sentencing decision.

Deputy District Judge, Paul Booty, added, as part of the conditions of the deferred sentence, that Brooks was expected not to commit any further offences and not to contact a victim of one of his crimes.

Brooks will appear for sentencing at Great Yarmouth Magistrates Court at 9.30am on September 12.