A man who defied an order banning him from seeing his wife set fire to her car when she refused to speak to him, a court was told.

Ronald Hazeldon torched his wife's Vauxhall Astra, which was parked under the sitting room window of their home.

He had gone back to the house in Adam Close, Crowborough, on October 11 after kicking open the front door when she had refused to let him in the day before.

Police searched the area as fire crews dealt with the blazing car and found Hazeldon, 48, drunk in a neighbouring street and arrested him.

Andrew Baughan, prosecuting at Hove Crown Court yesterday, said Mrs Hazeldon had taken out an injunction preventing her husband from contacting her after they separated.

Hazeldon admitted arson and a charge of criminal damage to the front door.

Ahmed Hussein, defending, said Hazeldon was suffering from a psychotic illness.

Judge Austin Issard-Davies ordered him to be detained under Section 37 of the Mental Health Act at Eastbourne District General Hospital.