A pyromaniac torched 10 cars and a campervan with a family asleep inside - just weeks after leaving custody for a similar rampage.

Toby Pierce, of Ramsgate, caused destruction worth £65,000 by repeatedly sending vehicles up in flames around his hometown in March.

The 20-year-old was locked up a year before for arson attacks on five vehicles, almost igniting a home, in the same town.

Just days after his release from a Young Offenders' Institution in January, Pierce assaulted two police officers and was handed a short spell in custody.

Then, in March this year, Pierce was arrested in possession of a lighter, as fires raged around him and smoke billowed into the sky.

Pierce, who demonstrated fire-setting behaviours from a young age, was handed three years and nine months at Canterbury Crown Court on Friday.

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Prosecutors described residents waking to a smoke-filled sky in the early hours, as their vehicles burned in Newcastle Hill, Finsbury Road, Broad Street, Anns Road, Church Road and Denmark Hill.

Prosecutor Edmund Fowler told how Jade Williams discovered a series of blazes and banged on Kieran Williams’ converted horse box, where his family were sleeping.

Mr Williams fought back the blaze with a fire extinguisher, but when he went to attend to other cars, some exploded - including a Vauxhall Astra.

A woman managed to throw buckets of water over her burning vehicle to help minimise the damage, Mr Fowler said.

But other car owners were less fortunate.

Charley Taft’s father woke her as soon as he discovered her Mini Cooper alight, but the bonnet and engine had partially melted.

Ellen Greenstreet’s Ford Focus sustained “extensive damage”, Mr Fowler explained, while her partner Alexander Epps’ Mercedes C Class suffered destruction worth £16,000.

Pascal Marechau was in Oxford when the fire service phoned to say his Volvo V60 had been damaged.

But Charlotte Hamilton’s Fiat 500 remained unscathed as Pierce failed to get the fire to take hold.

The court heard emergency services were called after Pierce and an unidentified man were spotted on CCTV attacking vehicles.

When PC Amy White arrived at the scene, she “had concerns it was this defendant, being aware of what he did before,” the prosecutor said.

He added the “global” value of destruction was worth £65,000, with “various victim impact statements (provided to the court) speaking of inconvenience and concern”.

Pierce pleaded guilty to ten counts of arson and one count of attempted arson at an early opportunity.

A count of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered was asked to lie on file.

A psychiatric report revealed he suffers with learning difficulties and ADHD with autistic traits.

He also “demonstrated fire-setting behaviours from a young age,” a probation evaluation explained.

Representing Pierce, Kerry Waitt said he was a “troubled young man” who suffered “a difficult upbringing having been taken into care aged nine”.

He explained Pierce’s foster family, who attended the hearing, would provide a “supportive network” following his release from custody.

Mr Waitt said Pierce requires “multi-agency support and help".

“His propensity to resort to various means of intoxication is his way of managing the mental health problems which beset him.”

Wearing a grey tracksuit in court, Pierce, who has eight convictions for 20 offences, appeared restless and anxious in the dock.

Judge Simon Taylor KC told Pierce, of Dane Road, his behaviour was “self-centred and disruptive”.

But he would not impose an extended sentence because of Pierce’s youth.

“People have a right to leave their property and feel safe - not see it go up in flames,” he explained.

“Hard-working people need their cars to go to work, they need their cars to take children to school, they need their cars to get to medical appointments,” he said.