Man jailed over fatal fire

Eight-year-old Lily Almond died in hospital

A man has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for starting a fire in which two young girls and a 25-year-old man died.

Gary Elsey, 31, had pleaded guilty to three counts of manslaughter during the trial at Bristol Crown Court.

Elsey's co-defendant, 23-year-old Aaron White, was found not guilty of the same charges by a jury on Wednesday.

Eight-year-old Lily Almond, her aunt, Laura Almond, aged 14, and Jamie Pursey, 25, all died after the fire in Somerset in February.

'Callous behaviour'

The court heard that Elsey had set fire to the flat in Friarn Street, Bridgwater after an earlier argument with the occupants and a day of drinking and taking drugs.

Mr Justice Raymond Jack told Elsey: "When you lit the fire you gave no thought whatever to the people who were living in the house.

"It was totally callous, irresponsible behaviour."

Richard Smith QC, for the defence, said Elsey's actions were not premeditated and his primary intent was not to harm those in the flats.