A NEWPORT man set fire to his mother's house during a "psychotic episode" when he thought the Mafia were after him, a court heard.

Phillip Evans, 30, of no fixed address, pleaded guilty to arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Andrew Jones, prosecuting, told Newport crown court that police were called to Margaret Evans' home, in Castle Park Close, Gaer, on May 17, and saw smoke coming from an upstairs window.

Inside they found Evans barricaded in the living-room, shouting: "Don't come in, I'm armed."

The officers forced entry and saw Evans holding a large hammer. There was also a sledge hammer on the settee and a lit newspaper on the gas fire.

They managed to detain Evans and another officer discovered that the carpet and curtains of a bedroom had also been set alight, but two neighbours had entered the house and used wet duvets to put out the flames.

In police interview, Evans said he had been out of the country and had not felt well since his return.

He said on the day of the fire he had caught a series of buses, lost his bearings and ended up in Chepstow. Evans said he took a short cut, but fell in a river and had to grab hold of a log to stay afloat.

By the time he reached safety, Evans said, he was mentally and physically drained and decided to commit suicide.

He bought paracetamol and whisky and got into his mother's house through a window.

Evans said he remembered lighting the fire, but little else. Mary Parry Evans, defending, said: "He was going through a period of psychosis that was acute and short lived."

She said he had told his family he was being chased by the Mafia and was making out a will.

Miss Parry Evans said this state of mind was likely to have been a response to the strange events he experienced, and was very unlikely to occur again.

Judge David Morris sentenced Evans to 14 months in prison, saying the reasons for his actions "remain obscure".

He said the neighbours who put out the fire, Tony Collins and Ben Glycos, had acted courageously and he would see to it that they are commended.