A former boat owner who lived in his car on the Shotley peninsula has been jailed for four and a half years after admitted setting fire to a garage.

Paul Devereux, 58, of no fixed address , pleaded guilty to arson and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

Devereux became a well known character when he lived in his car opposite the Bristol Arms in Shotley Gate with his dog Jack close to his boat Pepper, which later had to be removed from the beach for safety reasons.

He also spent time living in his car at a lay-by in Freston and could often be seen by the Strand.

Firefighters tackle blaze strted by Devereux (Picture: Suffolk Fire Service)

He appeared before Ipswich Crown Court on Friday (10 February) for his sentencing hearing via a prison video link, and heard he had 33 previous convictions.

The court heard Devereux used an accelerant to start the blaze at the garage which was attached to two houses in Ashcroft Road in Ipswich in September last year.

The fire completely destroyed the garage but damage to the two adjoining houses was avoided thanks to neighbours who spotted the fire at an early stage and called the fire brigade,

Judge Emma Peters said Devereux had a long association with the victim's house as he had been a friend of the victim's father and had cared for his mother.

After the victim, who was described as vulnerable, inherited the property, Devereux had a key to the garage and kept some of his belongings in it.

Paul Devereux in custody (Picture: Suffolk Police)

Judge Peters said Devereux had a history of harassing people he held grudges against and the arson had been a revenge attack after the victim reported him to the police for an alleged fraud.

In addition to jailing Devereux, she made a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim and from going within 100m of his home for ten years.