AN arsonist who started a blaze in a revenge attack on a former neighbour has been jailed for two-and-a-half years.

Burnley Crown Court heard father-of-two John Crabtree, 35, was thrown out of his Kent Street home in Burnley a year earlier - and had blamed victim Miguel Pilling for accusing him of stealing milk.

Crabtree, who was high on a cocktail of drugs, torched a wheelie bin and put it outside Mr Pilling's door - but the blaze was put out by an eagle-eyed neighbour.

The defendant later told police he had wanted to talk to the victim and went on: "Pilling deserved it."

Crabtree, now of no fixed address, had lived in Kent Street for five years. He admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

John O'Shea, prosecuting, told the court the neighbour saw Crabtree lying a wheelie bin on the ground and picking it up repeatedly. He then spotted smoke and immediately called 999.

He went outside and saw a bin on fire inches from Mr Pilling's door. He put out the flames with two washing up bowls full of water.

Fire crews arrived and police found the defendant in the next street. He was taken to the police station and a lighter was found in his pocket.

He told officers he had just wanted to get Mr Pilling out one way or another.

John Woodward, defending, said Crabtree's only real mitigation was his guilty plea. Reports stated he appeared to have little remorse.

Mr Woodward said the defendant had been very foolish, would never act like that again and had no previous convictions for similar behaviour.

The barrister added Crabtree had been out of trouble since 1999 but had taken a cocktail of cocaine, heroin and cannabis before the offence.