A DRUNKEN pensioner on bad terms with his neighbours tried to kill himself by starting five fires in his Southampton council flat.

The drama happened after council officers had set up a mediation meeting between George Haines and other residents at the flats, which catered for the elderly and vulnerable.

Southampton Crown Court heard they had been lodging complaints with the council how the 65-year-old had been throwing rubbish from his first-floor balcony in Rockall Close, Lordshill.

However, the pensioner did not attend the October 27 meeting and the council team was walking around the scene to see the problem for themselves when they saw black smoke billowing from his home.

Prosecutor Stuart Ellacott told the city crown court another resident had also seen the smoke and alerted the fire brigade but at one point Haines walked on to his balcony to throw rubbish away and was heard to say: “It’s a bit cold, I want to hot the place up.”

Firefighters, wearing breathing apparatus tackled the blaze and found Haines in his bedroom. He shouted “Get out! Get out!” until he realised who it was and became compliant, leaving the flat that was full of smoke.

The other residents were also evacuated and were not allowed to return to their homes until the situation was safe.

Haines was arrested by the police and accepted responsibility for the fire, telling them, “I hate all these people from around here.”

In interview, he said he had not intended putting lives in danger and detailed his problems with drink.

Mr Ellacott added that an investigation revealed there were five seats to the fire, three in the kitchen and two in the lounge.

Haines, 65, pleaded guilty to arson when reckless as to whether life would be endangered and was jailed for three years.

Passing sentence, Recorder Nicolas Gerasimidis said Haines had been fed with his life and wanted to end it.

“You had no thoughts of hurting others but these were deliberate acts done by you, utterly selfish and without thought to other occupants. There was potential for a serious situation. You were out of control and had consumed alcohol.”

Alistair Wright, defending, said Haines had been in custody since October and bizarrely had found it a rewarding experience as he had been attending alcohol awareness and prevention courses.

“He has also been able to take stock of his life and has re-established contact with his children which gives him hope for the future.”