A convicted wife killer set fire to his Maidstone sheltered housing flat out of frustration and loneliness, a court heard.

James Clarke, who served almost 11 years behind bars for stabbing his wife to death, started the blaze in a bid to kill himself.

A court heard the 80-year-old was angry that his bank cards and a bus pass had gone missing. Believing they had been stolen, he repeatedly rang his emergency button to alert staff and tell them to call police.

The former Royal Engineer, who had been drinking heavily, then lit bedding or clothing in his bedroom before sitting down to watch TV in his living room and waiting for the flames to engulf him.

But, staff at the accommodation in James Whatman Way, Maidstone, were again alerted by an emergency call from Clarke's flat and could hear his smoke alarm.

On entering the third-floor flat, Clarke told them: "I told you I would do it. I told you I was going to do something. Now I have."

The frail pensioner, who worked as an engineer for London Transport until he was jailed for life for murder in 1990, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

Maidstone Crown Court heard the blaze on April 30 this year destroyed the flat and all Clarke's belongings, with the total loss and damage estimated at £30,000.

The accommodation, which houses the elderly, retired people, and vulnerable adults with learning difficulties, had to be evacuated.

Currently recalled to prison, Clarke wept yesterday as he told the judge: "I was upset. I broke the law and I broke my licence.

"I said I am guilty. I didn't mean to do nothing and I had been drinking. But how would you feel if someone stole your cards and bus pass? Twice this has happened.

"I tried to get it sorted out but I didn't get my answer. But I didn't mean no harm. If I knew there was going to be danger I wouldn't have thrown my life away. I have many years left.

"Everything in that flat was mine. I bought everything. I am lost for words."

Clarke told police after his arrest he started the blaze because he was angry no one had come to see him when he used the emergency button.

"He said he set the fire intending to kill himself and once lit he went and sat in the lounge waiting for the fire to kill him," said prosecutor Martin Yale.

"He said he didn't think about the other residents in the block of flats, only about killing himself."

The court heard Clarke fatally stabbed his wife in the back during a row. He was released after 10 years and eight months but was recalled back to prison in 2006.

He moved into his flat six years ago, having been freed for a second time.

Kate Hunter, defending, said that Clarke rarely had visitors or went out due to health difficulties and mobility problems.

She added he acted 'wholly inappropriately' but out of frustration over his missing property.

"You put at risk not just your life but the lives of the residents in that block. They could have been seriously injured or killed." - Judge Julian Smith

"He was feeling fed up and not feeling himself. His mind wasn't clear and he was upset. He went into the sitting room and after starting the fire says he was not afraid to die," said Miss Hunter.

Clarke, who struggled to hear proceedings and was wearing broken glasses, was jailed for 40 months.

Passing sentence, Judge Julian Smith said although Clarke was vulnerable, isolated and had no contact with his family, jail was inevitable.

"You put at risk not just your life but the lives of the residents in that block. They could have been seriously injured or killed," he told the pensioner, who unusually was allowed to sit within feet of the judge.

"But I am not persuaded you are dangerous because of your frailty, your acceptance now, albeit you are surprised of the amount of damage you caused, and the fact you are subject to life licence."

Clarke, who apologised to Judge Smith 'for all the trouble', will not however be released from prison until the Parole Board considers it safe to do so.

He also told the court he served the minimum term of his life sentence in four prisons, all of which he said 'were excellent'.

Neil Martin, detective sergeant at Kent Police, said: "The building in which Clarke lived also housed a large number of sheltered accommodation residents, mainly elderly and vulnerable people. They all had to be evacuated and Clarke’s incredibly reckless actions put their lives at risk, as well as his own.

"Although no one was injured, Clarke presents a significant risk of causing serious harm and the sentence he has received is entirely appropriate."