AN arsonist who could have created a fireball when he started a blaze in a shed where he knew gas cylinders were stored, has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.

Homes had to be evacuated while firefighters dealt with the incident, Bradford Crown Court heard.

Jailing 29-year-old Michael Rowntree, Recorder John Thackray said the consequences could have been "catastrophic" had the gas canisters exploded.

The court heard that Rowntree, who was intoxicated with drugs, went to a house in Buttershaw Drive, Buttershaw, Bradford, at 7.30am on September 27 last year.

Rowntree, who was of no fixed address, asked to be let in but was refused entry.

The woman who lived at the house then saw the defendant sitting behind the door of her garden shed and saw smoke coming from it. A fire, giving off black smoke, took hold very quickly.

Rowntree was seen standing near to the shed, admiring what he had done with his arms out and palms raised.

Children in the house were hysterical and 30 houses were evacuated because of the danger from the gas acetylene cylinders, which Rowntree was aware of.

Recorder Thackray told Rowntree, who was convicted after a trial of arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered, he had deliberately started the fire by lighting flammable materials with a naked flame.

He said: "A fireball could have been created had the gas cylinders exploded."

The judge said Rowntree had put firefighters at risk, as well as the inhabitants of the houses, who were not allowed back home for many hours.

Recorder Thackray said that, instead of expressing shame after the incident, Rowntree had sent a malicious communication by Facebook to someone who had complained about him starting the fire.

He added: "You deliberately started the fire out of revenge, because you were not allowed access to the house. You deliberately created substantial risk to life and property."

Recorder Thackray said Rowntree presented a risk to the public of causing serious harm, but he declined to pass an extended sentence, telling the defendant: "If you commit offences in the future, the courts will have no hesitation in passing an extended sentence."