A TEENAGER set fire to a pensioner's bungalow in Blaina in a "wicked and dangerous" arson attack, a court heard.

The 17-year-old used white spirit to start the blaze, which caused extensive damage to the hall, Newport crown court was told yesterday.

The youth, who cannot be named, admitted setting fire to 77-year-old Melvin Ransom's home in Edmonds Close.

He was sentenced to a supervision order by the judge and must undergo any psychiatric therapy that doctors prescribe.

Judge David Morris said: "This was a wicked and dangerous attack for which there was no motive which makes it even more worrying."

But speaking after the hearing, widower Mr Ransom (pictured) said he did not believe a custodial sentence would have helped - and welcomed the fact the teenager will have access to have psychiatric treatment.

"It doesn't seem as though he knows why he did it himself," he said.

Mr Ransom, who was at a 90th birthday party on March 18 when the fire was started, added he thought the youth should be made to spend time with the fire service, to "teach him the consequences" of arson.

Prosecutor Matthew Cobbe told the court that the boy "could not or would not explain the motive for the attack".

He said the youth had telephoned the fire brigade shortly after setting fire to the bungalow to tell them there was a blaze - which had already been extinguished when firefighters arrived.

The telephone call was traced to the youth's mobile phone and he admitted the offence when he was arrested.

Mr Cobbe said: "The defendant noticed the door of Mr Ransom's bungalow was ajar and knowing that he was not at home he went to get some white spirits and set fire to some plastic bags."

Mitigating, Lucy Crowther said the youth was "screaming out for help" and a custodial sentence would be "destructive".

She said he was "full of remorse for what has happened and has to be stopped by his parents from going to see Mr Ransom to apologise to him."

Judge Morris said: "It is an offence which clearly crosses the custodial threshold but I am not going to send you to prison, which the people of Blaina and district, or anywhere else, may not thank me for." Because of "unique factors" the teenager would serve a two year supervision order and attend whatever psychiatric therapy doctors prescribed.