A Winchester man was acquitted by a jury of setting fire to a block of flats at midnight and endangering more than a dozen lives.

Tarkon Huggett (32) was alleged to have set ablaze his flat at Meon House in Milland Road, Highcliffe, shortly after a row with his fiance, a trial at Winchester Crown Court heard.

Many residents had to be roused from their beds by neighbours and police as fire tore through the block in October, 1998.

Mr Huggett denied arson with intent to endanger life and the lesser charge of arson being reckless whether life was endangered.

On Wednesday, the jury took three hours to unanimously acquit him on both counts, clearly believing the fire started accidentally.

Mr Huggett left the court telling Judge Tom Longbotham that he was returning as a voluntary patient to Ravenswood, the medium-secure unit near Fareham.

The case was highly unusual, as Mr Huggett had been deemed unfit to stand trial in 1999 because of mental illness. He had spent some four years being treated at Ravenswood. Earlier this year, a decision was taken that Mr Huggett was fit to stand trial.

James Bullen, prosecuting, said it had been decided to proceed because of the seriousness of the offences.

After the trial, Mr Huggett's father, Richard, said the family was considering legal action: "The way my son has been treated is tantamount to a 'cruel and unusual punishment'. We now know he is innocent. The prosecution case was weak and vicious.

"He could follow what was happening, but unless you know him well, you have no understanding of the profound mental anguish he has suffered. He has been tormented by this for a long time," said Mr Huggett, of Brassey Road, Winchester.

Mr Huggett said his son was a victim of Care in the Community, adding that, before the fire, he had received inadequate care, including the administering of inappropriate and powerful drugs.