A DAD who set his home on fire after his baby daughter was taken into care has been locked up for two-and-a-half years.

Jamie Arnott, 29, had been drinking heavily when he set alight to the front door and curtains at the house he shared with his partner, Kelly Young, in North Crockerford, Vange.

Miss Young, who had given birth to their child just days earlier, alerted police after Arnott stood outside the property at 3am on November 18 last year, yelling abuse before starting the blaze.

Miss Young and her friend were able to put out the flames.

Yesterday, Judge Chris-topher Mitchell told Ar-nott: "On November 14, 2006, the young woman with whom you were living gave birth to your daughter. For a number of reasons Social Service's took that baby into care soon after it was born. That obviously caused you a great deal of distress and anguish and you blamed Miss Young for that.

"One can well understand your distress at this baby being taken into care immediately on its birth, but Social Services had good reasons."

Judge Mitchell said it was unclear how Arnott started the fire, but matches were found near the scene and photos of the damaged property indicated that he put a lighted object through the letterbox. In mitigation at Basildon Crown Court, Jacqueline Carey said her client pleaded guilty to arson at the earliest opportunity and had no memory of the incident.

Miss Carey said it was unlikely Arnott - who has previous convictions for damaging property, a public order offence and shoplifting - would commit such a crime again, as it was unlikely he would have to cope with such a serious emotional event.