A 40-YEAR-OLD man who deliberately set fire to his flat after leaving a suicide note has been jailed for three years and nine months.

After lighting the blaze Jason Spivey called 999, a court heard.

When police arrived in Belvedere Close, Leigh, they found Spivey had barricaded himself into his first floor home.

Officers forced their way in and doused the flames.

Liverpool Crown Court heard Spivey claimed the fire had been started by someone pushing something through his letter box but officers found it began in a bucket of white spirit in the toilet.

Spivey pleaded guilty to arson being reckless whether life was endangered on February 19.

Judge Robert Warnock said the offence was so serious a custodial sentence had to be imposed.