A FAILED asylum seeker who threatened to set fire to a house and himself has been jailed for 15 months.Snp Reda learned that his application for asylum had been refused on May 19 and had contacted the Adelphi Housing Organisation and made the threats, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

A FAILED asylum seeker who threatened to set fire to a house and himself has been jailed for 15 months.

Snp Reda learned that his application for asylum had been refused on May 19 and had contacted the Adelphi Housing Organisation and made the threats, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Andrew Oliver, prosecuting said: “He was wound up and felt he wasn't receiving the assistance he should.”

He said that Reda told a housing association representative that within one or two hours he would set light to a house in Ainslie Road, Ipswich and she believed that he meant what he said.

Ten minutes later Reda had walked into the housing offices and was abusive to staff and threatened to set light to himself and the property in Ainslie Road.

Reda, 21, of Ainslie Road, admitted threatening to damage property.

Mark Roochove for Reda said his client had been seen by a psychiatrist and was found to have been suffering from a depressive illness at the time of the offence. He had been prescribed medication and had responded well.

Mr Roochove said: “If it wasn't for the illness he probably wouldn't have behaved in the way he did.”

He said his client had fled from Algeria at the beginning of the year because he didn't want to join the national army.

He had been refused asylum in this country and was appealing against the decision.

If he was sent back to Algeria he feared he would be detained without trial for four years and would then be forced to join the army.