AN HEROIC police officer risked his life to save a York man who had torched his own home.

Acting Sergeant Simon Pape dived into the blazing inferno where 37-year-old Gavin Bullock was standing motionless with a book in his hand.

Sgt Pape dragged him out of the flames and outside to safety as the fire tore through the flat in Falsgrave Crescent, York.

He went to see if anyone else was inside, but the fire, which wrecked the flat, was so intense he could not get in.

Bullock, a paranoid schizophrenic, was arrested and sectioned under the Mental Health Act. He was later charged with arson and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

He appeared at York Crown Court on Monday after pleading guilty at a previous hearing. Prosecuting barrister Matthew Collins said he had been sectioned in Bootham Hospital prior to the offence but on December 17 last year he escaped after telling staff he was going out for a cigarette break.

York Press: York Crown Court - zxc

“He was heard telling staff that if they followed him, they’d be dead,” said Mr Collins.

A nurse informed the authorities and police went round to his address, where black smoke was billowing from the property.

“They called for back-up because the fire was so intense,” added Mr Collins. “They saw a man sanding still in the middle of the smoke and fire.

“When they shouted at him to get out of the property, there was no response. The fire was getting more intense and an officer ran into the blaze, grabbed the defendant and dragged him from the property.”

Even after he had been pulled to safety, Bullock remained rigidly still and expressionless, holding a book he wouldn’t let go of.

Mr Collins said at the tine of the fire, a mother in one of the neighbouring properties was at home with her baby son, partner and mother, who were wrapping Christmas presents.

Defence barrister Andrew Semple said Bullock had a “chaotic history of psychotic illness” exacerbated by drug abuse. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, he had suffered from “auditory hallucinations” and made numerous attempts to take his own life.

Judge Stephen Ashurst detained Bullock in a mental-health hospital until he is deemed safe to be released and praised Sgt Pape for his “brave action in going into a burning building in order to save life and limb”, with little thought for his own safety.

“I regard him as a man worthy of a special commendation,” he added.