A DEPRESSED arsonist burnt down his house — then set fire to his mother’s home when she let him stay there.

Joseph Bowyer, aged 52, of Lytton Street, Halliwell, was yesterday jailed for three years and four months after he admitted charges of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and arson.

Bolton Crown Court heard how in August last year, former pub landlord Bowyer telephoned the emergency services and told them he had set fire to the house he rented in Braeside Grove, Ladybridge, because he was depressed.

Susan Carter, prosecuting, told the court Bowyer had used a lighter to set fire to bedding, but the blaze was so severe that it brought the ceiling down in the bedroom and spread into the roofspace of the adjoining semi-detached bungalow.

A woman living next door fled from her property only after she was alerted to the blaze by another neighbour.

Bowyer waited on the front door step of his house while the flames took hold — then went back inside to retrieve possessions and had to be rescued by firefighters. Damage worth £30,000 was caused to the property, which was not insured, and the roof space of the adjoining house was also damaged.

Mrs Carter told the court that, when interviewed by police, Bowyer had said he had started the fire because he was depressed about a troubled relationship with his partner.

“He said there was nothing left for him and actually expected the fumes to overcome him,” she said.

Following his arrest for the arson, Bowyer was released on bail and two months later, in November, his mother gave him permission to spend the night at her terrace bungalow in Woodvale Gardens, Great Lever, while she visited a friend.

But while she was out, he lit a fire in the bedroom and, at 11pm went to his mother’s friend’s house and admitted what he had done.

His mother returned home with him and them put out the blaze.

Bowyer told police he started the fire after seeing smiling photographs of his late father, about whom there had been previous child abuse allegations.

David Toal, defending, said Bowyer has had problems with alcohol and stressed that no one was hurt in the two fires.

jrowe@theboltonnews.co.uk