ARSONIST Kenneth Parry was jailed for six years today at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court just a year after being cleared of raping two lesbians.The 39-year-old, of Kingsley Guest House, London Road, Ipswich, was found guilty of arson and recklessly endangering life.

ARSONIST Kenneth Parry was jailed for six years today at Bury St Edmunds Crown Court just a year after being cleared of raping two lesbians.

The 39-year-old, of Kingsley Guest House, London Road, Ipswich, was found guilty of arson and recklessly endangering life.

Although he was convicted last month he had been freed on bail until today's sentencing.

At his latest trial Parry had denied torching a friend's house in a fit of drunken rage after an argument.

The court heard he had enjoyed "an up and down" friendship with Graham Luke Hilton, the occupant of the house Parry set alight in Surrey Road, Ipswich.

Parry and Mr Hilton, commonly known as Luke, had shared an interest in alcohol and at times had drunk to excess in pubs and each other's homes the jury was told.

Last September the relationship had soured to the extent that after an argument on October 12, Parry – who had been drinking heavily – set fire to the upstairs bedroom of Mr Hilton's home.

In his defence Parry maintained he had spent the entire night at The Falcon public house in Ipswich and could not remember what time he left because he was so drunk.

Previously Parry had hit the headlines in January last year when was cleared of raping two single mothers who had previously had a lesbian relationship.

One of the women claimed Parry had raped her in his car in a car park while she was six month's pregnant.

The other accused him of visiting her home several months after the first alleged attack and having sex with her against her will while her young child was asleep in a pram in the same room.

After that trial Parry's ex-wife Sheila, who had stood by him during the court case, said: "He's a bit of an idiot, but not a rapist."