A FATHER who set fire to his home in a bid to kill himself and his son, has been jailed for six years by a crown court judge.

Roy Farrow started the blaze at Runcie Place, Canterbury, after he couldn't accept the break-up of his marriage to his wife Katrina, 35, and he was unable to cope.

On the night of the fire last December, Farrow, 61, drugged his 12-year old son with a lamb stew laced with Temazepam, then lay on the bed beside the sleeping boy with a picture of himself and his wife between them.

Jamie's life was saved when he woke, realised the house was on fire and escaped from an upstairs window. When he roused his father, Farrow told the boy to go back to sleep.

At Canterbury Crown Court, Farrow admitted attempted murder and arson being reckless if life was endangered. Counsel for Farrow said his family had now disowned him. He was remorseful.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S KENTISH GAZETTE