Jail for man in arson at Wolverhampton flat

Two women in their 90s had to be rescued after a neighbour deliberately set his flat on fire in the Wolverhampton block where they all lived, a judge heard yesterday.

It was the second time Peter Taylor had been guilty of arson while reckless to whether life was endangered, Wolverhampton Crown Court was told.

The 52-year-old had been jailed for three-and-a-half years in October 2008 after torching another property where he was living.

Prosecutor Bernard Linnemann said Taylor struck again on March 4 when he set light to the bedroom curtains in his first floor flat at Long Furrow, Pendeford, before settling down to watch TV in the lounge.

He added: "The flames took hold and were seen by a neighbour on his way home who raised the alarm.

"Then, helped by others, he got two elderly ladies, one of whom was 96, out of their properties to safety."

Taylor refused to open his flat to the fire service who broke in to find him sitting with a knife to his throat, said Mr Linnemann.

Firefighters talked him into handing over the knife and put out the blaze.

Taylor admitted arson while reckless to whether life was endangered and was given an indefinite sentence for public protection.