A father of three set fire to his neighbour's flat because he blamed her for his heroin addiction, a court heard.

Christopher Mason, 32, of Lincoln Road, Basildon, was angry at becoming addicted after a neighbour in Rainham advised him to take the drug to ease the pain of two broken ankles.

Mason, pushed material through the letterbox and set light to it causing £15,000 damage. He was jailed for 30 months.

Published Thursday, May 22, 2003

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