A drug addict robbed a betting shop at knife point just five days after setting fire to his flat, a court heard.

Daniel Kirkman, 30, told police officers he was hearing voices who told him to start the blaze at Sefton Court in Halliwell in January this year.

Days later Kirkman walked into Betfred on Halliwell Road brandishing a 30cm knife and forced terrified staff to hand over £195 in cash.

At Bolton Crown Court, Kate Gaskell, prosecuting, said residents at Sefton Court had to be evacuated at 1am on January 17 after Kirkman set fire to a mattress and sofa in his second floor flat.

Ms Gaskell said the fire could have been more serious had Kirkman not raised the alarm five minutes after starting it.

He quickly admitted causing the fire saying voices had told him to burn down his flat. Bolton at Home said the damage cost almost £3,000 to repair.

On Jan 22 at around 11.30am, Ms Gaskell said Kirkman was spotted coming out of a toilet in Betfred carrying a large kitchen knife.

He waved it above his head and shouted “give me your f***ing money” before a female staff member handed him £195 in cash.

Kirkman, who was wearing flip flops at the time of the robbery, was arrested shortly afterwards.

Ms Gaskell added that Kirkman had 9 previous convictions for 28 offences and was jailed in 2017 for attempted robbery.

Peter Horgan, defending, said Kirkman, who pleaded guilty to robbery, arson and possession of a bladed article, had lived a “life blighted by drug abuse” and had “not had the best start in life”.

Mr Horgan said that four days before the arson Kirkman had checked himself into hospital and he was “making real efforts to avoid using drugs”.

Sentencing Kirkman to four years and eight months behind bars, Judge Timothy Stead, added: “If you don’t take crack cocaine you do not become dangerous and when not affected by drugs you are a reasonable and pleasant individual.”