A MAN who set fire to a house after being dumped by his girlfriend has been sentenced to three years in a young offenders' institution.

James Prest, 20, began a campaign of harassment against Helen Tinkler after reacting badly to the end of their relationship.

Teesside Crown Court heard that Prest was behind a cascade of mobile phone calls and texts to Ms Tinkler at all hours of the day and night, and also began calling at her home and place of work.

Sean Dodds, prosecuting, said Ms Tinkler eventually went to stay with a friend, in Belvedere Road, Darlington, but the harassment continued, with Prest regularly banging on doors and windows.

In the early hours of May 31, a neighbour saw Prest kick his way into the property and later realised to her horror that the house was on fire.

No one was in the house at the time, but the blaze caused neighbouring homes to be evacuated.

Mr Dodds said Prest, who had been drinking, had set fire to a shawl on the back of a sofa, then tried to make the scene look like a burglary.

When arrested, Prest said that he had attempted to put out the fire after realising what he had done.

He told police: "There was nobody in. I thought 'What can I do?', so I lit the settee.

"I don't know what I was thinking about because it was absolute stupidity.

"It started smoking, so I thought I would make it look like a burglary."

He said he had drunk a lot of alcohol and accepted that he had made no attempt to call the emergency services.

Peter Sabiston, for Prest, said he was a hard working young man who had acted out of character.

He said: "This was a desperate plea for communication with his ex-partner."

Prest, of Apsley Way, Ingleby Barwick, near Stockton, admitted arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, harassment and burglary.

Recorder Malcolm Swift said a custodial sentence could not be avoided because the offences were so serious.

He also placed a restraining order on Prest not to make any contact with Ms Tinkler.