FOUR days of “madness” has left a previously unconvicted man behind bars, serving a prison sentence of almost four years.

Aaron Christopher Adams burgled a neighbouring flat in the hostel where he was living, then damaged his own bedsit after being evicted,before starting a fire in a nearby disused pub.

Durham Crown Court heard it began with him stealing the property of a woman who lived in another bedsit in a charity-run hostel in Station Road, Shotton Colliery, while she was in hospital.

Paul Abrahams, prosecuting, said she did get some items back, as police seized them from a shop in Darlington, leaving the owner out of pocket by £28, the amount he paid for them from Adams.

As a reprisal to then being told to leave his flat, Adams spread paint round and threw items from the window.

The court heard that the emergency services attended a report of a fire in the former Gold Mine pub, in Cowley Street, Shotton Colliery, at 4.45am on February 26.

It caused some internal damage, but led to a family living above an adjoining Post Office and shop being evacuated, as a precaution, for several hours.

Mr Abrahams said Adams attended the scene and confessed to police that he earlier set light to clothing to keep warm, before leaving the premises, unaware the flames were still simmering.

Neil Bennett, mitigating, said following his arrest, Adams has been in custody since February 28.

He said it was, “four days of madness”, after the defendant fell into drugs misuse.

Adams, 21, admitted arson being reckless whether life was endangered, burglary and criminal damage.

Imposing a total sentence of 46 months, Recorder Andrew Dallas told him he hoped he uses his time in custody to resolve his issues.