An arsonist who set fire to a busy Clapham gay bar in a "carefully calculated attack" has been jailed.

Jason Fossett, 45, of Portland Road, Croydon, was given a life sentence and ordered to serve a minimum of three years and 244 days at Inner London Crown Court on Friday, August 4.

He pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life at the same court on May 3.

The attack on the Two Brewers in Clapham High Street happened in the early hours of March 20.

The bar's duty manager was locking up the side exit door, which leads out into Prescott Place, at about 2.45am when he noticed Fossett appearing to urinate.

The manager told him to leave the area and went back inside the building.

He could smell smoke a few minutes later, and when he went outside to investigate he found a fire had been started.

PC Paul Waterman, who carried out the investigation with officers from Lambeth CID, reviewed the bar’s CCTV which showed Fossett ordering drinks at about 2am.

It then showed him leaving the bar 15 minutes later and entering Prescott Place, where he stacked numerous rubbish bags over an 18-minute period and set them on fire.

PC Waterman said: “Fossett is clearly a dangerous character who deliberately went out of his way to set fire to the bar in a carefully calculated attack.

“It was sheer luck that the fire was spotted in its early stages to prevent any further damage or anyone sustaining any injuries.

“I hope Fossett uses his time behind bars to reflect on his actions.”