AN ARSONIST who set fire to his flat was sent to prison yesterday.

Kevin Lee Bridgeman, aged 27, of High Street, Blaina, was sentenced to three and a half years at Newport crown court by Recorder Stephen Hopkins, QC.

Bridgeman, who the court heard has psychiatric problems and suffers from depression, set fire to his flat in High Street on July 8 at 4.30 am.

The fire spread to properties on either side of his flat, which included the Bush Hotel.

Jane Rowley, prosecuting, said: "A Richard Evans saw Mr Bridgeman leave his flat and told him that smoke was coming through the roof."

Mr Evans told him he should warn his neighbours, only to be told: "They will be all right, the walls are made of thick brick."

The court heard how Bridgeman had been drinking that evening with his new girlfriend and had paraded her in front of his ex-girlfriend.

When his ex-girlfriend did not become jealous, Bridgeman was incensed and argued with both of them before leaving to go back to his flat.

He later telephoned both women and threatened to kill them, the court was told, and started the fire deliberately with a gas cylinder.

Tom Crowther, defending, said his client was "a depressed and pitiful man" who had earlier been crying in the gutter. "He set fire to the flat as a consequence only for himself."

Recorder Mr Hopkins disagreed and felt Bridgeman had tried suicide as a way out, but left the flat when the fire started because he then realised he could be hurt.

He said to Bridgeman: "So serious is your offence that only a custodial sentence is justified.

"You left your flat while it was ablaze without concern about the safety of others, and it was fortunate that no- one was injured."

He sentenced Bridgeman to three and a half years, half of which is suspended.