Boxing coach told he was ‘lucky’ damage caused was not more serious

A boxing coach was warned that he was ‘very lucky’ his actions didn’t cause significant damage after he was hauled before a court.

Lee Geddis, 46, was sentenced for arson after setting fire to a bin in Bury town centre. He had previously unsuccessfully tried to set fire to a wooden fence panel which backed onto a nightclub smoking area in the town.

Manchester Crown Court was told that the crime marked the climax in a downward spiral of Geddis’ mental health. The court heard that on Saturday, April 18, Geddis had attended the Black Pub Inn on Bolton Street, but was removed by security after being told he was barred.

Click here to hear the latest from Manchester’s courts in our newsletter

Geddis already had a blowtorch and light on his person. Later that evening, in the early hours at about 1.45am, Geddis was on nearby Back Broad Street.

He was seen trying to use the blowtorch to set fire to a wooden fence panel, which backed onto the Society nightclub on Silver Street. He was unsuccessful and then turned his attention to a bin, where he set fire to the contents of it and walked away.

Onlookers soon realised what had happened, and the fire was quickly put out. Geddis was warned in court by Recorder David Wood: “You are very lucky that the damage caused by your behaviour was not significantly worse than it was. Exactly why you did this is hard to ascertain.

“There is no doubt that this offence can only be met with a sentence of immediate custody.” The judge said that Geddis had behaved in an ‘erratic, impulsive and highly dangerous manner’.

Defending, Mark Shanks said Geddis had been a ‘hard working man’ as a gym owner and a boxing coach, but that he had experienced a ‘very sharp deterioration’ in his mental health.

He said that last year Geddis had been issued with a ‘threat to life’ warning by police. Mr Shanks said Geddis had ‘absolutely no idea’ where it had come from. His relationship broke down, he lost friends, and became effectively homeless, the court was told.

To make sure you can see all of Manchester’s court stories in your newsfeed – click here to add the MEN as your preferred Google source

Mr Shanks said that Geddis had tried to receive support from mental health units prior to the incident, but that he had been told he ‘did not meet the criteria’.

Geddis, of Bury, pleaded guilty to arson while being reckless as to whether life was endangered. He was sentenced to three years and eight months in prison.