Northern Ireland

£330,000 worth of damage caused by fire at former Belfast Telegraph offices, court hears

Police at the the former Belfast Telegraph building in Belfast city centre where a fire broke out. Picture by Mal McCann.
Police at the the former Belfast Telegraph building in Belfast city centre where a fire broke out. Picture by Mal McCann. Police at the the former Belfast Telegraph building in Belfast city centre where a fire broke out. Picture by Mal McCann.

A MAN who broke into and started a fire in the former Belfast Telegraph building caused £330,000 worth of damage, a court heard today.

Cristian Stefan Topiter (33), of Parkmore, Craigavon in Co Armagh, pleaded guilty to charges of burglary and arson.

Belfast Crown Court heard that that on February 21, 2018, Topiter had "sneaked into'' the historic four-storey building on Belfast's Royal Avenue when workers had left for the evening.

Prosecution lawyer Philip Henry said that once inside the defendant "secreted himself in the ceiling of the building'' on the first floor.

He told Judge Patricia Smyth that at 6.15pm CCTV showed Topiter "falling through the ceiling and landing on the floor''.

The prosecutor said that over the course of the next four hours, the CCTV footage recorded the defendant "roaming around the building wearing a back pack''.

Topiter showed particular interest to A first floor technology hub owned by Digital Catapult Ltd and was captured "filling his back pack with electronic items''.

Mr Henry said that at around 9.30pm CCTV footage showed him "starting a fire with combustables'' and a report by a Fire and Rescue Service watch commander later said the fire had been started "deliberately''.

Police at the  the old Belfast Telegraph building on Little Donegall Street at where a fire broke out Picture Mal McCann.
Police at the the old Belfast Telegraph building on Little Donegall Street at where a fire broke out Picture Mal McCann. Police at the the old Belfast Telegraph building on Little Donegall Street at where a fire broke out Picture Mal McCann.

Judge Smith heard that shortly before 11pm, Topiter smashed a window and cut himself when leaving the building with his back pack.

DNA recovered from the scene was a match to Topiter and he was later arrested at an immigration detention centre in Glasgow where he was awaiting deportation.

The prosecution lawyer said that it wasn't until 3.30am the following morning that the Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the fire "which the watch commander said had been burning for some time''.

As a result of the fire, extensive damage was caused to the building which is currently owned by Belfast City Council.

An initial estimate of the damage had been put at £87,000 but Mr Henry said that the most up date assessment put the bill at £279,000.

He added that a further £51,000 of damage was caused to equipment at Digital Catipult, saying the bill was so high as "fire damaged equipment could not be used again''.

The court heard Topiter has a previous conviction in Northern Ireland for arson and two theft convictions in his home country of Romania.

A defence barrister told the court on the evening of February 21, 2018, Topiter had consumed alcohol and had taken prescription medication.

"The defendants says he has no recollection of how he did or what he actually did while inside the building.

"He remained in the building after starting the fire for a period of time, putting himself in jeopardy,'' added the defenca barrister.

He added that Topiter had been on remand in custody for the two offences for the past ten months and it was "highly likely'' he will be deported after he finishes his prison sentence.

Both the prosecution and defence agreed that a sentencing range of 18 to 20 months was appropriate on his plea of guilty to the charges.

Remanding the defendant back into custody, Judge Smith said she wanted to consider the papers in the case and would pass sentence next Tuesday, May 14.