A 17-year-old youth who set alight a sleeping tramp on Dover seafront did it on impulse - and not because he was sadistic, a court heard.

Jack Walker was given youth custody for three years and four months after he admitted reckless arson.

The incident was caught on CCTV, which showed the teenager, who was with friends, putting a lighter flame close to the face of the sleeping man.

Minutes later, the camera caught Walker setting alight to the sleeping bag - with victim Kevin Hartingan asleep inside - before walking away.

Canterbury Crown Court heard that Mr Hartingan, in his 30s, woke up to find his bag and socks alight and managed to put out the flames - even though he couldn’t remember doing it.

But a psychiatrist who examined Walker, of Clarendon Road, Dover, said the attack was “ an impulsive act and not part of a sadistic trait”.

Mr Hartingan escaped without injury - although the bag and his socks were scorched, Paul Tapsell, prosecuting, said.

Judge Adele Williams told Walker that it was “no thanks to him” that the victim wasn’t seriously injured and he had showed a “reckless disregard for human life.”

“You left Kevin Hartigan with his sleeping bag on fire and it was no thanks to you or your friends he wasn’t seriously hurt. You could have been facing a far more grave charge - happily you are not -happily, that is, for Mr Hartigan.

“But I am told you have begun to realise the enormity of what you did that night and have showed the appropriate remorse.

“You had everything going for you. You are an intelligent young man who has shown you are capable of doing a training course.

But you have - at least temporarily - thrown it all away.”