AN ALCOHOLIC man has been sentenced to seven years in jail for beating and setting fire to a 64-year-old cancer victim.

Woolwich Crown Court heard Winston Miller, of Edward Street, Deptford, drank six or seven cans of strong lager before his assault on long-standing friend Maureen Edwards.

The 47-year-old attacked her on December 11 last year at her flat in Southbrook Road, Lee, after demanding cash for booze.

Prosecutor David Ross said: “After further discussion between them his mood turned violent and he began to use his fists to punch her in the face and head.”

She eventually fell to the floor, with Miller swearing at her and continuing his attack.

After pushing his victim back in the chair she asked to go to the toilet but Miller refused to let her, leading to the woman wetting herself and coughing up blood.

The court heard he then told her “you’re going to die” before grabbing her throat and starting to throttle her.

He left but returned to the flat later, kicking down the front door and taking a lighter to Ms Edwards’ hair.

Mr Ross said: “Her hair actually caught fire and she had to put it out with her hands.

“She was terrified that he would do something much worse to her.”

Ms Edwards managed to call the police before Miller barricaded the front door and set fire to a mattress.

He kept on repeating to her “you’re going to die” before telling her he loved her and saying: “Goodnight Maureen”.

When police arrived the flat was ablaze and they saw Miller throwing pieces of paper on to the fire.

He was arrested and told police: “I’ve done a bad thing. I’ve done a terrible thing.”

Miller pleaded guilty to arson with intent to endanger life and causing actual bodily harm.

In mitigation, his barrister Daniel Cummins said Miller was “truly remorseful” and at the time of the offence “really wasn’t in full possession of his faculties”.

But sentencing him, Judge Peter Murphy said: “It seems clear that on this particular day, for whatever reason, you were quite determined to do acts of serious violence to this woman.”

He added: “The fact that you were drunk is no excuse for what you did.”

Ms Edwards has since died of lung cancer.