A DUDLEY man who set fire to his home after a row with his former girlfriend has avoided jail.

A police officer quickly spotted the fire after being called to the Hallchurch Road property and he was able to extinguish the flames.

David Lees prosecuting told Wolverhampton Crown Court that David Daker, aged 25, had downed five or six cans of larger before starting the fire in his ground floor flat which fortunately caused little damage.

But there were residents in neighbouring flats, added Mr Lees, who said Daker later told the officers after his arrest, "I wanted to end it."

Daker admitted arson and being reckless as to whether life was endangered and he was placed on supervision for three years.

Judge Michael Dudley said Daker had already spent nearly six months in custody since his arrest and it was clear he was a man who needed assistance.

He said Daker had a "pretty bad" criminal record and it was plain he had been suffering from medical problems. "Offences of this sort frequently attract prison sentences of three years or more, but the danger was relatively small because the fire was discovered very quickly. What you need is help."

Gurdeep Garcha, for Daker, said his client had come a long way since the offence and he was now "very much a changed man."

He told the court he had been able to spend time reflecting on his "foolishness."