A SHIFT worker who was stressed out and sleep-deprived by his neighbour’s noisy parties has been jailed for an arson attack on her flat.

Lee Batchelor, 40, complained several times and spoke to his housing association after a series of noisy gatherings at the flat above.

But no action was taken and he snapped in May when his teenage neighbour again had friends around for a get-together.

Taking a bottle of white spirit, he went to her door and sparked a fire, which caused extensive damage to the Bexhill flat.

He immediately regretted his actions and set off an alarm and called 999 before leaving.

His wife said he had been sleep-deprived and was at the “end of his tether” when he lit the fire at the door of the flat in Preston Road.

In June, he pleaded guilty to reckless arson at Lewes Crown Court, but walked free after a judge gave him a two-year suspended sentence for the crime.

However, he was behind bars today after three of the country’s top judges overruled the sentence and jailed him for three years and two months.

Ruling after a reference by solicitor general Robert Buckland QC, Court of Appeal judges said the suspended term was too soft.

“We recognise that anti-social and, in particular, loud continuous noise from neighbouring flats and houses can be highly oppressive,” said Lord Justice Simon.

“The selfishness of neighbours may come to dominate lives so as to exclude any real enjoyment of homes. We recognise this is what happened in this case.

“However, there are ways repeated anti-social behaviour is addressed lawfully.

“In the present case, the offender committed a serious crime. He wanted to teach them a lesson.

“In our view, the seriousness of the offence indicated a high degree of culpability.”

The judge, sitting with Mr Justice Julian Knowles and Judge Mark Wall QC, quashed the suspended sentence and jailed Batchelor for 38 months.

Batchelor was in court for the hearing and was taken immediately to the cells to begin his jail term.