A MAN who tried to set light to a flat in Oswestry with a six-year-old girl inside has been given a suspended prison sentence.

Ryan Kempson, of Vyrnwy Crescent, Llanymynech, was given a two-year prison sentence, suspended for two years, after using petrol to set fire to a suitcase and rubbish outside the front door of the property almost two years ago.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court last week Judge Anthony Lowe heard that at the time 27-year-old Kempson had been suffering from drug-induced psychosis.

Judge Lowe agreed that Kempson's mental health problems at the time constituted exceptional circumstances, and said the report of a psychiatrist indicated Kempson had no choice, in reality, as to the drugs he was taking.

"That then fed into the psychosis, and your ability to make rational decisions was severely impaired," he said.

Kempson, who had admitted a charge of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, must also complete 160 hours of unpaid work and a rehabilitation activity programme.

The court heard Kempson had set light to the flat in Willow Street, Oswestry, on October 1, 2017.

Ian Ball, prosecuting, said he had gone to the property, occupied by a former friend of Kempson's, and used petrol to set fire to a suitcase and rubbish outside the front door which caused £3,200 damage.

Mr Ball said the man was able to escape through a bedroom window with his six-year-old daughter.

Kempson had driven home and confessed to his mother who called the police, and he was detained under the Mental Health Act for five months.

Kempson said he did not remember starting the fire or why he had done it.

Debra White, for Kempson, said that at the time her client had been 'psychologically dependant' on cannabis, which had in turn induced the psychosis.

She said that since the incident he had stopped using drugs, completed his first year at university and stayed out of trouble and done everything possible to put his life back on the right track.