A LONER who set fire to his family’s house while they were asleep inside was today cleared of intending to endanger their lives.

Jonathan Hide started a blaze at the house in Chiltern Gardens, Watlington, while his mother, sister and three-year-old nephew were asleep inside.

During the two-day trial, the jury at Oxford Crown Court heard the 28-year-old Mastermind hopeful used a lighter to set fire to the curtains in his bedroom about 12.30am on October 3.

Hide admitted reckless arson but was cleared of intending to endanger the lives of his mother Barbara, his sister Ellen, her fiance Christopher Fletcher and his nephew Harry.

Referring to Hide, Fayza Benlamkadem, defending, said: “I see a 28-year-old man with no friends to speak of, a loner who drinks excessively as if blocking something out.

“That night was about him and it was about his room. It was entirely selfish. It wasn’t about his family, it was about him and his troubles.”

Hide was remanded in custody for sentencing on Friday, April 24.