AN arsonist who caused up to £30,000 damage when he set fire to his estranged partner's home has been jailed for more than three years.

Stuart West, 31, was high on "a number of different substances" when he took revenge on the woman after an argument, Teesside Crown Court was told.

His lawyer said he could remember little of the dangerous escapade, but he started three separate fires, got out and fled without raising the alarm.

After hearing how the mid-terrace house in Hartlepool was gutted, the judge said: "It's perfectly plain it required a significant amount of thought."

Firefighters had to break their way through the locked front door of the property in Rugby Street at 4am, and searched for trapped occupants inside.

The tenant was staying at the home of a friend because she was afraid West might do something after they had rowed the day before, the court heard.

In an earlier telephone call between the pair, the woman asked West where he was, and he replied: "Put it this way, I'm not at my mother's flat."

At 11.30pm he was seen by the woman's father crouching down with a black sports bag in the area of the rented home, said prosecutor Rachel Masters.

A fire expert's investigation revealed blazes had been started in the downstairs hall, on a mattress in the front bedroom, and in the back bedroom.

West was arrested when police saw him hiding behind a van. He pointed a large knife at officers, and had to be tasared when he refused to drop it.

Andrew Teate, mitigating, said: "He has limited recollection of the events of July 10. He was under the influence of a number of different substances.

"He does, however, apologise through me, and has deep regret. He is still trying to come to terms with exactly why he committed the offence.

"He can only think he must have been angry as a result of the difficulties he was having with the relationship."

West, of Elliott Street, Hartlepool, was jailed for three years and four months after he admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

His ex-partner said in a statement: "If I had been at home at the time I would have been killed. There are people either side and they would have been asleep."