A MAN who started a fire at his Redditch home and had to be rescued by a neighbour has been sent to jail.

Lee Andrews, aged 30, used petrol to start the blaze at his semi-detached property in Bridley Moor Road at 9.30pm on August 11 last year, Alexander Barnfield, prosecuting, told Worcester Crown Court.

His neighbour, Karl Lewis, bravely went next door and saved him from the blaze even though his wife warned him that it looked like the house had exploded, the court heard.

Andrews pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

Judge Robert Juckes said it was fortunate the neighbour had the "courage and sense" to act as he did.

Andrews had been drunk and depressed when he used petrol to start the fire but he had a partner and two young children, who were not at home at the time, and it appeared he had everything to live for when he was released from jail.

He gave Andrews a three year jail sentence minus the eight months he has spent in custody on remand.