Jeremy Taylor has been jailed at Manchester Crown Court for four-and-a-half years after being caught by a single match when he torched an historic Tudor mansion

An arsonist who torched an historic Tudor mansion, causing £5 million worth of damage, has been jailed for four-and-a-half years - after being caught by a single match.

Shop worker Jeremy Taylor, 28, set fire to newspapers he stuffed around drainpipes and doors at Grade II listed Wythenshawe Hall, a 16th century timber-framed manor house in Manchester.

Taylor was high on cannabis and alcohol and 'feeling sorry for himself' at the time, Manchester Crown Court heard.

After setting five separate fires at the building, which had survived for five centuries, he set off for home nearby and left it to burn in the early hours of March 15 last year.

The flames spread through the entrance hall and upwards onto the first and second floors and out through the roof, destroying the bell tower.

The bill to taxpayers for repairing the damage and restoration is estimated to be up to £5.2 million.

After the flames were out two days later, fire and police investigators found three matches - and DNA on one of them matched Taylor to the crime scene.

The defendant, who lived near the hall in Wythenshawe with his family, suffered a 'storm of abuse' from locals after his arrest.

Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service Air Unit Team of emergency services at the scene of a fire at the 16th century Wythenshawe Hall in Manchester

The hall, dating back to 1540, was gifted to the city of Manchester in 1926 by a philanthropist 'to be used solely for the public good'. It was staffed by volunteers and used to teach local schoolchildren about their history and heritage.

Taylor smiled and waved to his partner in the public gallery as he was jailed for four-and-a-half years after admitting arson at an earlier hearing.

Judge Martin Rudland praised fire scene investigators for their work.

He said: 'This turns on one match. They are to be commended on their fine work.'

Passing sentence on Taylor, he told him: 'This was a single act of selfish folly.

'I have no doubt that intoxicated through alcohol and the use of cannabis, which loosened your inhibitions on that night and made you feel sorry for yourself, are the root causes of you starting that fire.'

Half-timbered Wythenshawe Hall, which is owned by Manchester City Council, was partially destroyed by the blaze which was tackled by 50 firefighters at its height on 15 March 2016

David Toal, prosecuting, said at 3.45am on March 15 last year the fire alarm at the hall was activated and 10 minutes later the first fire engines arrived.

Five separate fires had been started but the flames mainly took hold around the main entrance door.

Investigators found burnt and screwed-up newspapers and three burnt matches nearby. Forensically analysed, they linked Taylor to the scene through DNA, Mr Toal said.

Police also found on Taylor's phone a text message from a friend, saying: 'You're on the news lol' - sent the day after the blaze after he had confessed he had 'done something stupid'.

The defendant initially pleaded not guilty and denied involvement, claiming he may have discarded the match while walking through the grounds on his way to work and smoking.

He changed his plea on the first day of his trial last month.

Ingrid Holden, a committee member of the Friends of Wythenshawe Hall told the court in a statement: 'I have cried over the damage caused and was totally devastated by the loss we have suffered.

'We have put our heart and soul into the hall so local people and beyond can enjoy their heritage.

'I find it hard to believe someone who lives in Wythenshawe could commit such a horrendous crime. It sickens me beyond belief.'

Daniel Travers said Taylor, who had a job and steady girlfriend and had not been in trouble with police since a juvenile a decade ago was 'deeply ashamed' of his actions.

He said the defendant had smoked cannabis since being a child and was under the influence of the drug along with drink that night.

Wythenshawe Hall was the home of the Tatton family for hundreds of years. Its history includes being besieged by parliamentary forces during the Civil War.

It and its grounds were given to Manchester City Council in 1929 and now house a museum and art gallery.