In the quiet hours just after midnight on September 11, 2025, a devastating fire tore through Vermont House in Washington, obliterating the constituency office of Labour MP Sharon Hodgson and leaving a trail of destruction that rippled through the local community. The flames not only gutted the MP’s workspace but also decimated two vital community services housed in the same building: a small charity supporting people with very rare genetic diseases and an NHS mental health service for military veterans. The incident, which sent shockwaves through Washington and Gateshead South, has since unfolded into a story of recklessness, hardship, and the challenges facing vulnerable individuals on society’s margins.
According to BBC, the fire was first reported just past midnight, with officers from Northumbria Police responding swiftly to the blaze. By the time the flames were subdued, large portions of the building had been reduced to rubble and ashes. The charred remains of Vermont House stood as a stark testament to the violence of the fire, with footage from the scene capturing not just the destruction, but also graffiti scrawled on the exterior reading, “328 days blood on your hands.” The message, though ominous, has not been directly linked to the perpetrator or to any political motive, and authorities have not commented further on its significance.
Within hours of the incident, police arrested a man in his twenties on suspicion of arson and criminal damage. It quickly emerged that Joshua Oliver, 28, a homeless man with no fixed address, had been living in a tent near the building in the Concord area of Washington, near Sunderland. At Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on September 13, Oliver pleaded guilty to starting the fire that led to the destruction of Vermont House. The case, as reported by The Guardian and BBC, revealed a complex narrative: Oliver admitted to igniting a fire in a wheelie bin outside the premises, which then spread uncontrollably to the building itself.
Heather Bolton, Oliver’s defense barrister, told the court, “He accepts he has set fire to the wheelie bin, he didn’t intend for the fire to spread to the building.” Bolton argued that Oliver’s actions were reckless rather than deliberate, a claim the Crown has firmly rejected. The prosecution, maintaining that the gravity of the offence warranted further scrutiny, did not accept Oliver’s plea on the basis of recklessness. As a result, District Judge Kate Meek indicated that a Newton Hearing—a special court procedure to determine whether the arson was reckless or intentional—may be required before sentencing.
The financial and social toll of the fire has been substantial. Estimates place the damage to Vermont House between £250,000 and £500,000, a heavy blow for the tenants and the broader community. The small charity for people with extremely rare genetic conditions and the NHS mental health facility for veterans both lost their offices and resources, compounding the tragedy for those who rely on their services. As BBC noted, the fire “destroyed the front of the building and damaged the offices of a small charity for people with very rare genetic diseases and an NHS mental health service for veterans.”
Oliver’s actions on the night of the fire extended beyond arson. He also admitted to burgling Vermont House, stealing a mallet and power tools while the building was ablaze. In addition, Oliver pleaded guilty to three counts of criminal damage at the same premises, having smashed windows in the days leading up to the fire. His pattern of destructive behavior did not stop there; in July 2025, Oliver twice broke windows at his father’s house in Sunderland. All of these offences will be considered together when he appears for sentencing at Newcastle Crown Court on October 14, 2025.
For now, Oliver remains in custody, awaiting the next chapter in his legal journey. District Judge Meek was clear that sentencing for all charges—including arson, burglary, and multiple counts of criminal damage—will take place at the Crown Court. The possibility of a Newton Hearing looms, as the court must decide whether Oliver’s actions were a case of reckless disregard or deliberate intent. This distinction could significantly impact the severity of his sentence.
The incident has left the local community reeling. Sharon Hodgson’s office, while declining to comment in detail due to the ongoing police investigation, issued a statement stressing that “there is no place for this kind of violence in our society.” The loss of the MP’s office and the accompanying community services has created a palpable void in Washington and Gateshead South, with residents and local organizations grappling with the aftermath. The charity and NHS service displaced by the fire provided crucial support to some of the area’s most vulnerable populations, from individuals with rare genetic disorders to veterans in need of mental health care.
For many observers, the case also highlights the complex realities faced by people like Joshua Oliver—those living on the fringes, struggling with homelessness, and sometimes caught in cycles of criminal behavior. According to court testimony, Oliver had been residing in a tent near Vermont House at the time of the incident. While his defense has argued that the fire was an act of recklessness rather than malice, the prosecution’s stance underscores the seriousness with which such offences are treated, especially when they result in widespread harm.
The presence of graffiti reading “328 days blood on your hands” has added a layer of intrigue and speculation to the case. While authorities have not attributed the message to Oliver or linked it to any specific motive, its appearance on the building’s exterior has fueled questions about the broader context of the crime. Was it a random act of vandalism, or does it point to deeper grievances within the community? For now, those questions remain unanswered, as investigators focus on the facts at hand.
As the legal process continues, attention will turn to the upcoming court proceedings in October, where the full circumstances of Oliver’s actions—and the impact on the community—will be weighed. For the people of Washington and Gateshead South, the hope is that justice will bring some measure of closure, and that the vital services lost in the fire can one day be rebuilt. In the meantime, the charred remains of Vermont House stand as a somber reminder of a night that changed the community forever.
