NEIGHBOURS of a Gwent man who torched his home because he thought it was evil and endangered their lives say they are relieved he is now behind bars.

But they are calling for Graham Purchase, 38, to get treatment in prison for the depression and paranoia which made him think the house in Oak Street, Abertillery, was inhabited by the devil.

Yesterday, Purchase was jailed for four years by a judge at Cardiff crown court after pleading guilty to arson being reckless as to whether the lives of neighbours Ann Ashley, John Ashley, Julie Lees and Ian Howell would be endangered.

Purchase, whose marriage had broken down just before, also admitted a charge of damaging the property.

As the blaze took hold at the terraced house in March, Purchase was seen grinning at what was going on, prosecutor Jane Rowley. told the court. Judge Philip Richards told him: "These were extremely serious offences.

You caused an immense amount of damage to other people's property with a total disregard of their interest and of the effects your actions were having on your neighbours."

He had caused, said the judge, "Considerable risk to those living close to him."

The court heard that the damage amounted to £30,000 and the house was reduced to being "an empty shell and a hovel".

After the hearing, Ms Lees, 29, said: "I'm just relieved he's out of here and not coming back.

"The authorities should have done something to help him. He said the devil lived in the house - I always thought it was a wind up."

Ann Ashley's 19-year-old son John raised the alarm. He was praised by the South Wales Fire Brigade for warning firefighters that the building had no floors and saving them from possible injury.

Another neighbour, David Griffiths, saw the flames as he returned home from a night shift and feared for his six children.

Mr Griffiths said: "I think four years is fair enough for putting everyone in danger like that."

In March, Purchase began damaging fixtures and fittings and making a noise nuisance of himself, the court heard.

The owners, Glamorgan and Gwent Housing Association, found floorboards ripped up and it was decided to start civil proceedings to evict him. Water, gas and electricity were cut off.

After being arrested, Purchase said someone else began a blaze in a copper storage tank in a ground-floor room after which he himself put a wooden pallet on top of it which fuelled the fire.

Purchase told the police: "I'm sorry I've caused the grief I have." He was said to have previous convictions for criminal damage, assaulting his ex-wife, and burglary.

His counsel, Hilary Roberts said: "His use of amphetamine contributed to the offences.

"At the time he was deeply depressed and paranoid, exacerbated by the break up of his marriage.He understands that what he did posed a great risk to others and he is mortified."