A HOMELESS man sleeping rough in a barn caused more than £46,000 damage when his cigarette sparked a massive blaze.

Norman Gourley, 54, of no fixed address, had been staying in the barn in Manor Farm, Binsey Lane, Oxford, for about a month before the incident, on February 26.

Prosecutor Henry James told Oxford Crown Court yesterday that Gourley was in the barn smoking a cigarette at about 9pm when the straw went up in flames. His jacket also caught fire.

Gourley ran away from the building "shocked" by what had happened but, on March 20, having seen reports and photographs of the fire, handed himself in to police.

Peter De Feu, defending, said: "He told me he couldn't have it on his conscience."

He said Gourley had not deliberately caused the fire and admitted the charge of arson at the first opportunity.

He added: "To even smoke a cigarette in a barn with hay is reckless. He made a tiny mistake which has had massive consequences."

Mr De Feu said Gourley, who had 38 previous convictions, had recently attempted to tackle his drink and drug problems and re-establish contact with his family.

Recorder Malcolm Gibney jailed Gourley for nine months for the "catastrophic" blaze.

He said: "The offence itself, let alone the catalogue of other matters, renders it so serious that neither a fine nor community penalty is appropriate."

The fire was the second at the farm in six months and was described as "absolutely devastating" by Charlie Gee, who has run it with his father since 1999.

Fire crews were called at about 9.30pm and found flames up to 40ft in the air.

Neighbours Oliver Wills and Barney Stratford had helped herd the farm's herd of cattle on to Binsey Green.

Mr Wills said: "Binsey has had a lot to deal with in the last six months and I hope that we don't have to deal with any more fires like this."