AN ARSONIST has been given an 11-year sentence for setting fire to a block of flats in Dorchester with the intention of killing people.

Jesse Everett, aged 27 and from Dorchester, intentionally set fire to Signal House, flats at Bitter End in Dorchester, forcing residents to be evacuated from their homes in the middle of the night on June 29 last year.

Prosecuting, Nicholas Cotter, said that Everett lived in Bridge House, which was the block of flats next to Signal House, and had planned the attack, purchasing petrol a number of days before and transferring it into smaller bottles before entering the building and setting it alight at around 4am.

He told the court that one resident on the second floor was awoken by the sound of a loud bang and that her husband ran into the hallway, saw sparks under their front door and pushed a damp towel underneath it. Other residents woke up to the sound of the fire alarm blaring and the smell of thick black smoke.

Damage was caused to four flats and in total the damage caused to the building was estimated to cost around £70,000.

Four firefighters entered the burning building to extinguish the blaze, which was confined to a communal area on the second floor. Firefighters rescued two people by ladder from a second floor balcony, while two others were led to safety from another flat on the same floor. Thankfully, all occupants were accounted for and no injuries were reported.

Dr Harinder Bains, a consultant psychiatrist responsible for Everett's care, told the court that Everett suffered with autism spectrum disorder and said his actions were the result of 'chronic feelings he has had about the world and himself'.

He said: "The reason he did it was affected by the way he perceives his world around him and processes thoughts and emotions."

Defending Everett, David Freeland, said: "He has expressed remorse at various times."

He said Everett had a difficult life growing up, with his mother and her partner committing suicide.

Judge Brian Forster QC said: "He was lucky in a sense that the outcome wasn't much worse.

"The actual residents who were affected by your actions are still haunted by the events of that night.

"Once you light a fire, once you light a match, you have no control of the situation.

"You have described thoughts about harming others, thinking it would be better to kill people because then there would be less problems in the world."

Everett pleaded guilty at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday, October 23 to a charge of arson with intent to endanger life. He was given an 11-year sentence, comprising of a six-year custodial sentence and five year extension. Under section 45a of the Mental Health Act he is to be detained in hospital.

Signal House is owned by Magna Housing and contains shared ownership flats over four floors. It was built in 2012 alongside affordable housing accommodation Bridge House.