A husband started a fire at his home after his wife told him their marriage was over, a court heard.

Drunk Perry Giles put a pan of oil on the stove at the house in Hadlow and then went to the pub to continue drinking.

Fire and smoke damage was caused to the house in Court Lane, which was not occupied at the time.

But Giles, 59, walked free after a judge heard he was in work and paying the mortgage at the former matrimonial home where his wife Wendy and two children still lived.

Judge Julian Smith called it "a truly bizarre piece of behaviour" and accepted it was out of character.

“A lifetime of assiduous and impressive hard work should not be ignored,” he added.

“Imprisonment would lose you your employment and the capacity to support the family home.”

Maidstone Crown Court was told there was an argument last November and Mrs Giles declared: “I am leaving. This marriage is over.”

Giles put a pan of oil on the hob and his wife told him not to be stupid and removed it.

He did it again and the oil burst into flames.

“He has gone to the pub,” said his lawyer Andrew Baughan.

“He returns quickly because he has forgotten his wallet. He sees the fire.

"He returns to the pub, leaving his son to deal with it.

“There is discussion about whether to go into the house because it is dangerous.

"They break down the back door to the kitchen.”

Giles went back to the pub to “drown his sorrows”.

“It may be reprehensible conduct but it is out of character conduct,” said Mr Baughan.

"A lifetime of assiduous and impressive hard work should not be ignored" - Judge Julian Smith

“After this happened, he went to Alcoholics Anonymous of his own volition to sort himself out.

“The fire brigade came and put it out fairly quickly.”

Mr Baughan said the couple married in 1995. He was described as quiet and unassuming.

Giles, who admitted arson, was sentenced to 22 months imprisonment suspended for two years with 250 hours unpaid work.

He will also be given assistance with his alcohol problem.

A restraining order banning contact with Mrs Giles was made for four years.

Judge Smith told him: “My understanding is this was a crisis at the end of the marriage.

"The problem remains with alcohol. You were also unwell.

“You told her you were going to sell the house.

"When told it was not that simple, you said you would burn it.

"Those who start fires put everybody at great peril.

“Your wife has refused to make a statement for fear it would make matters worse for you.

"You said you just lost it that night. I am satisfied there is strong personal mitigation.

“In those circumstances, I am in a position to exceptionally suspend the sentence.”

The judge added that he struggled to accept that the damage amounted to only about £1,500.