AN ARSONIST who destroyed his ex-girlfriend’s house because she ended the relationship has been jailed for four years.

Derek England appeared before Dorchester Crown Court charged with arson recklessly endangering life and was sentenced to four years in prison.

The 69-year-old, of no fixed abode, had previously pleaded guilty to deliberately setting fire to his ex-partner’s house in the middle of the night on December 4 last year after she told him to move out.

A family of four living in the adjoining semi-detached house in Ibberton, near Blandford, were forced to evacuate their home after being woken at 4am by a loud explosion.

The court was told that England used an accelerant to fuel the blaze which left the house as a burnt-out shell and severely damaged the adjoining property where the neighbouring family lives.

In mitigation Timothy Shorter said: “England realised his ex wasn’t coming back to him and decided to end his own life. He drank a lot of alcohol and took a large quantity of medication tablets. He cut his throat and wrists and woke up two days later in intensive care.

“He doesn't remember what happened but he accepts that he must have started the fire and admitted this at the first possible occasion.

“He has been torturing himself wondering why he would have done this and feels the deepest regret.”