An arsonist who sparked a major blaze at a stranger's home has been jailed for three years.

The victim was not in when Callum Barnes started two fires at his property in Sunderland last May (2025) but was confronted by the flames when he returned.

Newcastle Crown Court heard the fires damaged the front of the house, including the upstairs window, a Ford transit van, a shed and some decorative conifers.

The court heard the householder was a roofing contractor and the damage to the van, plus the tools inside it, cost him £3,000.

Prosecutor Nicoleta Alistari said it is estimated the repair works at the house could be "tens of thousands".

The victim said in an impact statement, which he read in court himself, he went back home after a call from a worried friend who feared people may be inside the house during the fire.

He told the court: "I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I felt absolutely sick and raced home. I could see three fire engines and police outside my house, my works van and work tools were on fire.

"At the front of the house all you could see was flames. I couldn't believe what was in front of my eyes. I felt sick to my stomach."

The victim said his children were brought up in that house and added: "All the memories were getting burned to the ground. I felt physically sick and had to run to my friend's bathroom to be sick."

Barnes, 26, of Hunter Street, Shiney Row, Sunderland, admitted arson being reckless to whether life would be endangered.

The victim added: "I don't even know Callum Barnes, he doesn't know me or anything about me. I have no idea why he would want to harm me. I really want some answers. I want to know why."

Mr Recorder Bryan Cox KC told Barnes: "This was a senseless piece of criminality driven by your state of intoxication."

Sign up for the Echo’s free newsletters and let the headlines come to you

The recorder said there was no suggestion the victim was deliberately targeted by or even known to Barnes, who has psychological problems.

Glenn Gatland, defending, said: "He is at a loss to understand what happened that night, he had taken alcohol and benzodiazepines which impaired his normal, rational judgement. He has no recollection of what occurred."

Mr Gatland said Barnes wants to apologise to the victim, is not heavily convicted and has support in the community.