A HAMPSHIRE firefighter who became an arsonist so that he would be called out to blazes he started himself has been jailed for 15 months.

Scott Richter, 30, admitted starting four fires and trying to set light to a boat in the Totton area to earn the respect of his colleagues after they said an ex-girlfriend was better off without him.

The full-time firefighter, who was based at St Mary's station in Southampton, was off-duty and on call at the retained station in Totton when the incidents happened.

Richard Wilcox, prosecuting, said Hampshire fire service had launched an investigation after a number of suspicious fires in the Totton area.

Fire brigade management was said to have the noticed fires were occurring when Richter was off duty from St Mary's but available for Totton.

He was caught after being seen buying firelighters at Asda, hours before a suspicious fire was started in a Totton garage.

Richter, who has also served in the Army, and joined the fire service in May 2001, appeared at New Forest magistrates in September when he admitted four charges of arson and one of attempted arson.

He was accused of setting fire to a hedgerow and fence, a waste skip, undergrowth and shrubs and a private garage containing an £800 trailer.

Richter, who had his case adjourned to Southampton Crown Court for sentencing, also pleaded guilty to trying to set fire to a boat.

He is currently under suspension from his job.

Richter, of Water Lane, Totton, was previously retained at Eastleigh, Totton and Hayling Island and in addition to being full-time at St Mary's turned out in his spare time with the Totton crew.

Christopher Parker, mitigating, told the court Richter had committed the offences after suffering "disappointments" in his personal life.

He said: "He appears almost to have snapped and sought to gain the respect of his peers in the way he thought was best for him.

"He has felt the shame of what he has done very heavily. He is mortified."

Sentencing, Judge John Boggis, said: "You've let yourself down but you've also let down the good name of all firefighters, people that the public trust unreservedly."

He added he believed Richter had mental health problems because of his behaviour following the split with his girlfriend.