A RECKLESS prisoner in a Warrington jail has been sentenced to longer behind bars.

Anthony Eastham was serving a sentence at HM Prison Risley when he decided to set a fire.

The 31-year-old was subsequently charged with arson and was due to stand trial at Chester Magistrates' Court.

However, he changed his plea to guilty, and the court proceeded to sentence him.

The facts of the case were relayed by Chris Howard, prosecuting, who explained how the incident occurred on December 15 last year.

Eastham was serving a sentence in the Warrington Road prison and caused the blaze, causing ££3,452.21 worth of damage.

Through his guilty plea, the defendant admitted that he lit the fire intending to cause damage, or was being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged.

Magistrates highlighted how the offence was so serious that it had crossed the custody threshold.

Given the fact that the reckless act was committed in a prison establishment while the defendant was the subject to a custodial sentence, they concluded that the sentence must be an immediate one and not suspended.

Eastham, whose address on court documents was given as HMP Risley, was sentenced to an additional 20 weeks in prison.

He was also ordered to pay compensation of £200.