AN ARSONIST who said he wanted to play the hero has been jailed for six years.

Raymond Cartwright, of Alexandra Square in Winsford, deliberately burnt down the warehouse at the Morrisons supermarket in the town, causing an estimated £3.7m worth of damage.

But Chester Crown Court was told Cartwright sparked the fire so he could help to rescue his co-workers - and by warning them of the impending danger and trying to extinguish it himself, earn their respect as a hero.

Cartwright, who got the job by lying at interview to cover up a long history of criminal convictions, was working as a warehouse freezer replenisher at the time of April's fire.

The blaze engulfed the warehouse, completely gutting it, and only the prompt actions of fire-fighters saved the nearby superstore.

Firefighters were on the scene within minutes, but the sheer intensity of the blaze made it impossible to save the warehouse.

Defending, Michael Baggley told the court: 'He started a fire with a view to being the hero.

'It was certainly apparent that he was running through the building alerting staff and two fire extinguishers were found close to the fire.

'He insists he did go back to put the fire out. The intention was not to cause the damage and put anyone at risk - this is not a case where someone has simply tossed a flame and walked off.'

Mr Baggley said at the time Cartwright was in an emotional and distressed state due to the death of his mother and relationship problems.

Cartwright, 36, has been remanded in custody since his arrest and was making good progress with a view towards future rehabilitation. Mr Baggley told the court: 'He is contrite and he is addressing all measures available to him in prison to improve himself.'

Judge Justice David Clarke told Cartwright he had put the lives of co-workers and firefighters in peril and must face a stiff sentence.

Judge Clarke told him: 'The fire caused considerable damage and it was only thanks to fire precautions in place and the work of the fire brigade that it did not spread to the superstore. This must be regarded as a very serious offence.

'I accept that you were in an emotional state, but what you did was very serious.'

Cartwright was jailed for six years - including a nine-month concurrent sentence for deception, due to his failure to reveal his criminal past.