Walter Cohla sent to crown court

Walter Cohla (52), of Heywood, has been sent to crown court for sentence after admitting three counts of arson against Mecca bingo in Oldham.

Cohla travelled to Oldham three times and caused over £6,000 worth of damage to the smoking area of the Oldham town centre hall between January and May.

Mecca bosses set up CCTV cameras to watch the area after previous damage to its industrial bins. They caught Cohla setting fire to fencing and bins and pleasuring himself on his second visit. He was finally identified after a third visit, when the cameras caught a better view of his face.

Rebecca Romih, defending, described the situation as an unusual case.

Cohla was first seen in the smoking area looking for cigarette ends and was ordered to leave by a member of staff.

After brooding on the encounter he returned, intending to cause the person some distress

Cohla was revealed to have suffered depression for 10 years.

He remains on conditional bail - and can’t go within 50 metres of any Mecca premises before his crown court appearance.