An elderly pensioner who started a fire at a block of flats where he lived was on licence at the time for murder, a court heard.

James Clarke, 79, was recalled to prison after his arrest over the blaze at Thomas Place in James Whatman Way, Maidstone, on Sunday, April 30 this year.

He was sentenced to life imprisonment at Chelmsford Crown Court in January 1990.

Clarke, who will be 80 on June 23, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court this week.

Sentence was adjourned until September 11 for psychiatric reports. Judge David Griffith-Jones QC also requested a pre-sentence report to assess dangerousness.

Firefighters were called to the housing association flat owned by Housing 21 at 5.20pm. The blaze was brought under control within 40 minutes.