A CHRONIC drug user has been jailed for three years for starting a fire that sent six-foot flames shooting out of the windows of a set of flats.

Sean McEvey, 45, had objected to his landlord refunding overpayments by cheque and believed someone was about to kill him, said Abdul Shakoor, prosecuting.

The blaze he started in his ground floor flat in the five-storey building on Grosvenor Road, Scarborough, caused nearly £15,000 damage, but firefighters restricted it to his flat.

A neighbour outside saw six-foot flames shooting out of McEvey’s windows and called 999 and McEvey alerted the other residents.

McEvey pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether lives would be endangered and was jailed for three years.

A psychiatrist’s report said he suffered from psychosis and paranoia caused by his chronic drug use and binge drinking.

For him, Taryn Turner said with hindsight he was appalled by his actions on September 5 and when sober he was aware of his problems and wanted to tackle them.