DEPRESSED Ipswich teenager Andrew Haines started a fire at his family home in reaction to his mother's attempted suicide, a court heard.The 19-year-old appeared the town's magistrates where he admitted criminal damage by fire following a blaze at his mother's Kingfisher Avenue council house.

DEPRESSED Ipswich teenager, Andrew Haines, started a fire at his family home in reaction to his mother's attempted suicide, a court heard.

The 19-year-old appeared before the town's magistrates where he admitted criminal damage by fire following a blaze at his mother's Kingfisher Avenue council house.

The court heard Haines was staying with friends on the same street while his mother was receiving treatment at St Clement's Hospital after drinking bottle of bleach.

Upset, he started a small fire in the same room, before telling friends what he had done, said James Terry, prosecuting. He also told of his intentions to harm himself, said Mr Terry.

The court heard, in mitigation, Haines reacted badly after visiting his mother.

He pulled the doors of the kitchen units and set fire to newspaper on the floor.

Magistrates were told the teenager made a full and frank admission in a police interview.

Reports were ordered before Haines is sentenced at South East Suffolk Magistrates Court on June 25.

Two fire engines attended the blaze on May 30 which took 18 minutes to bring under control.