A GRIEF-stricken pensioner started fires after his wife died and he did not receive any support, a court heard.

John Mortley endangered lives by destroying the front door of the Flower Pot pub in Maidstone on December 6 last year and damaging two cars.

The 72-year-old tried to shake the hand of Deputy Judge David Croft, QC, after he was given a community rehabilitation order at Maidstone Crown Court.

Mortley is hard of hearing and instead of being in the dock, the judge had told him to sit on the jury bench.

When he offered his hand in thanks, Judge Croft told him: "No, no, no - judges don’t shake hands."

Mortley, formerly of Albert Street, Maidstone, had spent 10 months in custody after his arrest in January.

He admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and arson and asked for a further arson charge to be taken into consideration.

John O’Higgins, prosecuting, told an earlier hearing that at the end of last year there had been a series of unexplained fires near Albert Street at night.

As well as the pub blaze, a Toyota Yaris belonging to Dena Blake was damaged by fire on December 14.

Mr O’Higgins said police officers found Mortley by the car, which was on fire. Torn paper had been put on top of the tyres. The arson taken into consideration involved a Toyota van.

The court heard that Mortley had previous convictions but had not offended since 1983.

Xenia Stavrou, defending, said it was clear that Mortley committed the offences through grief after the death of his wife two months earlier.

"He recognises the offences were a cry for help," she said. "He shows genuine remorse. He felt extremely isolated, unsupported and alone. He had care of his wife, who suffered from Alzheimer’s disease.

"After her death, he had no support from Social Services. He has one son, who has mental health difficulties."

Miss Stavrou said the offences were isolated. Mortley, she said, needed help with his difficulties.

Judge Croft said the right sentence was 21 months, as he deserved to go to prison, but he would only be on licence for a short time.

He told Mortley: "There is virtue in a community sentence. What you did was very wrong. Potentially, setting fire to premises might endanger people’s lives - might have killed people. How would you have felt if you had killed someone?"

Mortley replied: "I am sorry about that - stupid thing to do."

The judge said he accepted that the offences were committed because of Mortley’s distress over his wife.

"I appreciate the hardship of trying to care for someone in the final stages of Alzheimer’s," he said. "It is no easy task."

Imposing a community rehabilitation order for two years, Judge Croft said: "If you committed any other offences..."

Mortley interrupted: "God help me."