AN OXFORD man has been given a 30-month jail sentence after starting a fire which ravaged a 17th-century thatched cottage.

Darren Stevens, 31, of Lodge Close, Old Marston, admitted arson recklessly endangering life over the blaze, which took 50 firefighters to put out.

Stevens admitted starting the fire in a garage next to 65 Oxford Road, Old Marston, at 1am on August 25 last year. The blaze caused £60,000 damage and destroyed half of the roof.

Clare Tucker, prosecuting, told Oxford Crown Court that Stevens rang the doorbell of homeowner Lucy Hughes, 65, just after 1am and asked if she had a hosepipe. He then tried to put out the fire.

Police became suspicious of Stevens's motives, however, and arrested him. In interview he initially denied starting the fire, but later admitted it.

He said: "I was walking my dog, the dog chased a cat and I went down the cul de sac and I seen (sic) the thatched roof. I'd had a lot of drink and, yeah, I did light it. I sat back for a while and thought I had done wrong because I thought there was someone living there."

He also admitted a further three minor arson offences, including setting fire to dustbins around Marston.

Paul Mitchell, defending, said problems in Stevens's past had led to him becoming an alcoholic, which in turn had led him to turn to arson.

Mr Mitchell said: "On New Year's day morning in 1999 he came out of a pub and was ploughed into by a drunken driver. His girlfriend was killed and he was seriously hurt. He later found out that she was pregnant at the time.

"He has been in custody for about nine months and has achieved in custody everything that a man can achieve.

"He is the cleaner in the governor's office and the anti-bullying representative and a first nighter, meaning he speaks to people on the first night they arrive in prison."