Man charged with arson after major fire guts MP’s office

A 28-year-old man has been charged with arson after a major fire at an MP’s constituency office.

The Crown Prosecution Service said Joshua Oliver, of no fixed address, had been charged after the blaze at the offices of Sharon Hodgson, Labour MP for Washington and Gateshead South, which happened in the early hours of Thursday.

The fire gutted the premises, as well as those of a small charity for people with very rare genetic diseases and an NHS mental health service for veterans, which were based in the same building.

Fire investigators were seen on Thursday at the offices in the Concord area of Washington, Tyne and Wear.

Christopher Atkinson of the CPS said: “The Crown Prosecution Service has decided to prosecute Joshua Oliver with arson following a police investigation into a fire at the offices of Sharon Hodgson MP.

“Our prosecutors have worked to establish that there is sufficient evidence to bring the case to trial and that it is in the public interest to pursue criminal proceedings.

“We have worked closely with Northumbria Police as they carried out their investigation.”

Oliver will appear at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on September 13.

The CPS urged people not share information online which could prejudice the legal proceedings.