An indie rock singer whose life has been blighted by drug addiction and depression has been jailed for arson.
Jaime Harding, the frontman of Macclesfield Britpop band Marion, deliberately torched clothes belonging to his girlfriend, but had to call the fire service when the fire got out of control.
The 41-year-old, who is from Macclesfield and now lives on Laurel Road in Heaton Moor, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered at Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court.
He was jailed for two years and eight months.
The court heard that Harding set fire to two dresses belonging to his girlfriend, using a cigarette lighter, when she did not answer his phone calls.
Prosecutors said the singer tried to extinguish the fire, but when he realised it was out of control he called the fire services who evacuated the block of flats at 3.30pm on February 2.
Marion formed in Macclesfield in 1993 and supported Morrissey, Radiohead and the Manic Street Preachers at the height of their fame.
They were managed by Joe Moss, the original manager of The Smiths, who died last year after a battle with cancer.
A spokesman for Le Mépris Management, which represents Harding and the band, said: “Jaime was in the midst of a deep depression and also under the influence of various substances. Jaime has suffered from depression and drug addiction for over 20 years.
“Unfortunately, following the death of Marion’s original manager, Jaime’s father-figure, Joe Moss in October last year, Jaime plunged into a deep depression due to his bereavement, which continued into this year and culminated in this incident.
“Jaime set fire to a dress in the bedroom of his flat and then in panic immediately put it out with damp towels.
“Unfortunately, around an hour later the smoke alarm rang and Jaime was alarmed to find that rather than being fully extinguished, the fire had actually been smouldering and the bedroom was now filled with smoke.
“At this point, Jaime alerted the fire services and was told to evacuate the building.”
Marion featured Harding, guitarists Phil Cunningham and Tony Grantham, bassist Nick Gilbert and drummer Murad Mousa.
They supported Morrissey, Radiohead and the Manic Street Preachers at the height of their fame.
The band released two studio album before splitting up in 1999, due to Harding’s heroin addiction.
Phil Cunningham joined New Order in 2002 and still plays with the current line-up of the band.
Marion tried to reform in 2006 but Harding became seriously ill with a condition caused by drugs. There was another failed revival in 2011 before the most recent attempt in 2015.
