AN ARSONIST found guilty by a jury of torching a woman’s home has been jailed.

Paul Whiting, 65, of Christchurch Road, Newport, was convicted following a four-day trial at Cardiff Crown Court last October.

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A jury cleared him of the more serious charge of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Prosecutor Clare Wilkes told the jury the defendant carried out the attack on March 26, 2020 in Newport.

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Whiting, who was defended by Ruth Smith, had denied both charges and claimed the blaze broke out accidentally.

After the jury found the defendant guilty, the judge, Recorder Paul Lewis QC said: “This is a serious matter and I am particularly concerned about the level of risk he poses to the public.”

The judge ordered a psychiatric report to be prepared on Whiting.

On Monday, following that assessment, he jailed the defendant for four years.

Miss Smith, mitigating, had said her client was “remorseful” for his actions.