AN arsonist who set fire to his home because he wanted to be rehoused found no one wanted to take him in, a court heard yesterday.

Gareth Flynn, 22, was plagued by bullies and burglars in his mid-terrace house so he started fires in the lounge and a bedroom.

Teesside Crown Court heard the damage bill for the Three Rivers Housing Group was £2,500.

Flynn was remanded to prison and his lawyers found no one wanted an arsonist living in their properties.

Dan Cordey, for Flynn, said the Probation Service could not rehome him either.

Flynn was kept on the hospital wing at Holme House Prison, Stockton, after the fire in Faraday Street, Ferryhill.

Mr Cordey told Teesside Crown Court : "There is a considerable list of property owners who have been contacted, and they would not under any circumstances consider somebody who has a conviction for arson. He was picked on, taunted and teased and burgled by young men in the neighbourhood, and he could not cope and he wanted out.

"Rather than contact the relevent authorities, he performed a stupid plan which was to set fire to the property to allow him to be rehoused. But he never intended that the fire should get out of hand."

Judge George Moorhouse told Flynn:"It is quite clear that in the past you have had a lot of problems to cope with and as a result of these problems you resorted to drink, and on the day of this offence you were under the influence of drink also."

Flynn of Bainbridge Avenue, Willington, Ferryhill, was jailed for nine months after he admitted arson.