AN arsonist who set a number of fires in an attempt to keep warm has been given a chance to turn his life around.

David Miller caused damage to his own property when he started the small fires in his Darlington home when he was in the middle of the ‘lowest point in his life’.

Teesside Crown Court heard how the 39-year-old had moved back into his home to find that the gas and electric had been disconnected after he had spent a period of time living on the streets.

Ellen Wright, prosecuting, said the defendant had admitted starting the fires in the house on Westgate Crescent when police arrested him at the town’s council offices.

She said: “At around 6am residents on the street were woken up by a loud bang, smoke was observed coming from the defendant’s address and he was seen to leave his property.

“A member of the public was walking his dog and he saw an orange glow in the living room window, he too heard the bang and looked through the window and saw a fire before calling the fire brigade.”

Read more: Investigation launched after 'discrepancies' found in police officers' crash report

Miss Wright said firefighters used water to extinguish the fires both upstairs and downstairs at the property.

When police arrested Miller, he told them ‘I did set fire in my house to keep warm as I was shivering. I set small fires in the room to keep warm and it got out of hand but I put it out myself’.

The court heard how the loud bang was caused by an aerosol can exploding inside the house.

Miller, of Westgate Crescent, Darlington, pleaded guilty to a charge of arson being reckless as to whether to endanger life following the incident on August 29 last year.

Ben Pegman, in mitigation, said: “The lighting of these fires represent the lowest point in his life. The psychiatric report showed how his mental health spiralled downwards and that reached a critical point in December last year.”

Recorder Aisha Wadoodi passed a sentence of a 12-month community order to give Miller the opportunity to address his mental health problems.

She said: “It is merciful that no other properties around your home were damaged.”

He was also ordered to attend 21 rehabilitation activity requirement days to address his behaviour.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Darlington Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054