A Savusavu man will spend a year in jail for burning down a house.

In April 2010, Ilame Ratumaijoma broke into a house in Savusavu and stole items including a chainsaw.

On his way out, he doused a mattress and set it alight resulting in the destruction of the house and a truck.

Ratumaijoma claimed the home owner had owed him money for over a year and when he saw the house empty, he decided to break in and steal.

The total sentence is 1 year four months, with twelve months non-parole.