A PROLIFIC criminal who started a blaze above a Burnley bar and then caused a £30,000 flood trying to put it out has been jailed for three years.

Burnley Crown Court heard ex-heroin addict Anthony Parkinson, 42, started the ‘raging’ fire at Hammerton House in July last year.

Parkinson had 91 convictions and was a convicted arsonist at the time.

He was on licence after being released early from a three year jail term for burglary.

The court heard Parkinson had had a cocktail of drink and drugs when he entered the building, which housed Barcode, martial arts and boxing clubs, a gym and a caretaker’s flat.

Parkinson was found in a corridor with a fire extinguisher by the caretaker.

He was said to have told a witness somebody had paid him to set a fire.

The caretaker then found flames raging on the first floor, an area under refurbishment.

The defendant had ripped out a sink and toilet cisterns, causing water to pour into Barcode below causing £30,000 damage.

The defendant, of Hathaway Fold, Padiham, admitted arson and damage and was jailed for three years.

David Temkin, prosecuting, said the bars in the Hammerton Street premises were both occupied and one was hosting a party later that evening and people had begun to arrive to set it up.

Parkinson had been seen in the building by the gym boss's fiancee at just after 4.30pm and he told her he fancied a ‘bit of boxing’.

She was suspicious and told her fiance who was teaching in the top floor gym.

Mr Temkin said at about 4.50pm people on the ground floor noticed water pouring through the ceilings and down the walls.

An insurance company had paid out £30,000 for damage in Barcode.

Parkinson would say he had gone into Hammerton House, as he had genuinely been interested in boxing, but got lost and started smoking.

He held his lighter to some light diffusers and started the fire.

Kevin Saunders, for Parkinson, said the fire damage was minor, it was not pre-planned, there was no use of accelerants and no injury was caused.