A teenager who videoed himself setting fire to four cars while on drugs has been jailed for two years.

Michael Murrell, 19, of Eastbourne Road, Lower Willingdon, Eastbourne, was convicted in May of four counts of arson.

He was in court yesterday for sentencing.

In August last year he set fire to a Volvo, a Renault and two Ford cars in Eastbourne and made a video of himself doing it, providing a commentary on his actions.

Murrell broke down at Lewes Crown Court when he heard Judge Guy Anthony sentence him.

The court was told he was of previous good character and had admitted the offences after his trial to both a probation officer and a psychiatrist.

Anthony Niblett, defending, said: "The offences were completely out of character and beyond the belief of his family.

"He was under the influence of drugs and some alcohol, but he had taken a cocktail of unlawful drugs including amphetamines."

Mr Niblett said Murrell told police officers he had made a video of the fires, which was a cry for help.

He also said his client might have been out to impress his drug dealer.

Judge Anthony said: "It remains a mystery how you thought you were proving yourself to your drug supplier by endangering the lives of people living nearby."

He sentenced him to two years at a young offenders' institution.