A man who tried to burn down a house where his sister's violent boyfriend was staying has been jailed for four years.

Scott Powell, 26, siphoned petrol from a car and used a hose pipe to pour it through the letter box of a house in Langney Road, Eastbourne, a court heard.

He set fire to it and started a fierce blaze in the hallway of the seven-bedroom property, Hove Crown Court heard.

Powell, who was living rough at the time, admitted breaching a 12 month conditional discharge for possessing a bladed weapon when he appeared for sentence yesterday.

He had pleaded guilty to arson when he appeared at the court on January 29.

Powell is already serving a 20-month jail sentence for importing cannabis to Britain after going on holiday to the Caribbean with his mother and her boyfriend.

Tim Burgin, prosecuting, said Powell's sister Amanda was in a "violent and abusive" relationship with her boyfriend, who was staying at the house.

Powell had threatened to "burn the house down and kill you all" after the landlady refused several times to let him in on April 30 last year.

Michael Fullerton, defending, said until two years ago Powell had led a blameless life. He had a history of depression and had been treated with the anti-depressant Seroxat.

Mr Fullerton said:" At the time of the offence his GP had refused him further treatment.

"He was living rough and in desperation went to Eastbourne hospital and asked to be admitted. His request was refused.

"He has little memory of what happened and is extremely remorseful and very shocked by his behaviour."

Jailing Powell for four years, Judge Anthony Scott-Gall said: "You cold-heartedly siphoned petrol from a car and set fire to it.

"If it had not been for the prompt action of the fire brigade there may have been graver consequences."

He ordered Powell to serve four years concurrent with the sentence he is already serving.