A MAN has been jailed for three years after settting fire to his own home after a row with his partner.

Paul Turner, 29, piled two sofas on top of each other and ignited them with petrol at his house in Redvers Street, Newport, said prosecutor Liz Pearson.

Turner admitted a charge of arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered at Cardiff Crown Court.

Judge Roderick Denyer told him: "This was a terraced house with people occupying houses on either side. It was a serious offence. I'm satisfied you were not so dangerous that I have to pass a life sentence but you clearly need help and I hope you get it in prison."

Miss Pearson said the couple had a row on November 2 and four days later Turner was seen shouting from the council-owned property "I've had enough, one of these days I'm going to burn this house down." Soon after smoke was seen coming from a room and people were alerted.

When the fire service arrived Turner claimed he had been carrying out electrical work which caused the blaze.

But investigations revealed petrol had been used to set two sofas alight. His counsel Mary Parry Evans said: "He has an obsessive compulsive disorder which has never been treated by a psychologist."

He was said to have 82 previous convictions for offences including criminal damage and threatening to cause damage.