A TEENAGER who hosted parties in his step-father's flat while he was away on holiday set fire to the property to cover up the mess left by guests.

Party-loving David Luxon set furniture alight and started a blaze in the bedroom in an attempt to hide damage caused by drunken revellers.

The 18-year-old also sold some of his step-father's DVDs to pay for alcohol for his friends who came to the parties.

Teesside Crown Court heard the teenager's step-father went away in February and left his flat in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, in the care of the defendant.

John Gillette, prosecuting, said: "He had a number of parties at the flat involving friends which left the place in a state of disarray.

"In order to buy drink for one of the parties, he took about 40 DVDs belonging to his step-father to a shop where they were sold for £56.

"The step-father was due to return and the defendant was conscious these items had been stolen and the place was in a state of disarray.

"He decided the best way to cover all this up was to start a fire or fires."

Luxon, who pleaded guilty to arson, set fire to a settee and an armchair in the lounge and a cupboard in the bedroom.

Brian Russell, mitgating, said his client had been abusing drink and drugs at the time and had a difficult relationship with his step-father.

He said Luxon may have started the fire as revenge rather than just to cover up the mess.

Luxon, now of no fixed address, had one previous conviction for criminal damage after he threw a stone through a pub window following a disagreement with the landlord.

Judge John Walford jailed him for three years.