Bolton burglar set fire to cell and threatened judge

Joshua Walker, 30, made the threat at his last court appearance where he had been due to be sentenced for both the arson and a string of burglaries. 

Bolton Crown Court heard how he had started the fire while a prisoner at HMP Risley in Cheshire in August last year, which put his cell out of action for around two weeks

Prosecutor Salek Ahmed said: “He later admitted to starting the fire in order to light up a spice cigarette.”

Mr Ahmed told the court how Walker burgled Cawdor Street Mill in Farnworth, by “tunnelling in” and stealing around £2,6000 worth of equipment overnight on February 13 to 14 2022.

Joshua Walker set fire to a cell at HMP Risley (Image: Google Maps)

He was seen on CCTV wearing a hooded parker jacket, while Walker’s DNA was also found at the scene.

Walker next struck at a salon on Deansgate in the town centre in April that year.

The owner first found that the upstairs back door had been opened but nothing was taken on April 12 but the next day Walker returned and stole hundreds of pounds  worth of shampoos and conditioners.

Mr Ahmed said that Walker’s fingerprints were found at the scene.

Just days later on April 20 he burgled a café in The Haulgh by breaking in through a disabled toilet window and stealing a penny jar and picture frame, leaving his blood at the scene.

Finally, Mr Ahmed told the court that Walker had broken into a business at St George’s House in Bolton town centre nearly a year later on February 6, 2023.

CCTV footage showed him going in with another man overnight where they stole electrical equipment, appearing to spend as long as three hours choosing what to steal.

But Walker left behind a screwdriver with his DNA on.

The case was heard at Bolton Crown Court (Image: Newsquest)

Walker, who has 43 convictions for 93 offences, was eventually arrested in Farnworth and after at first refusing to leave his police cell, eventually admitted to his crimes.

But it was while on remand at HMP Risley that he set a fire using kettle wiring and bedding that caused just under £4,000 worth of damage to his cell.

Mr Ahmed said it was “only by swift action” of staff that this was contained to just one cell and that no one was injured.

But this was at a time of severe cell shortages all around the country, that has often led to prisoners being released early. 

When last brought to Bolton Crown Court to learn his fate, Walker’s sentence was delayed by the need to make further queries.

Mr Ahmed said it Walker then made abusive comments about Judge Abigail Hudson.

He said: “In addition the defendant direct threats to the learned judge insinuating that the judge should quote ‘watch her back’ as she was quote ‘getting followed home.’”

Walker eventually pleaded guilty to four counts of burglary, arson and to contempt of court.

Nick Ross, defending, said that Walker, who refused to come out of his cell and appear before the court again, had been on remand for “an exceptionally long period of time.”

He also pointed out that all of the burglaries had been “very poorly executed.”
Mr Ross said: “He is anything but a professional burglar and that is perhaps symptomatic of his chaotic lifestyle.”

He added: “It’s a factual point, he is not very effective at what he has been doing.”

Mr Ross told the court the arson had been an “unusual scenario” which was “reckless”, “haphazard” and again “very ineffective.”

He said: “Some people may find it surprising that electronic equipment is left in the trust of prisoners.”

Mr Ross said Walker’s comments about Judge Hudson were “impulsive” and prompted by “considerable frustration” about delays in his case.

But Judge Nicholas Clarke KC said that some of Walker’s burglaries had shown “determination and planning” and reminded the court how the fire he started caused “considerable alarm.”

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He said: “It put you in danger, it put other inmates in danger and of course it put the staff in danger.”

Judge Clarke said there were already too few prison cells in the country and that putting one out of action for two weeks would only heighten this crisis further still.

He said that Walker’s comment at Judge Hudson were “very specific threats” directed at a judge who was “acting on behalf of the public.”

Judge Clarke jailed Walker for 20 months but accepted Walker may have already served the equivalent time in custody on remand.

He said that he anticipated Walker would be released shortly despite a report saying he was “almost unmanageable in the community.”