'You're going to burn in hell': Arsonist set fire to ex's home with mum and daughter, 6, inside

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard how the 26-year-old mother rescued her daughter, after waking to find her former boyfriend Daniel Watkins in her Cradley home saying: "I'm going to set this alight and you're going to burn in hell for what you did to me."

The victim described how her living room and hallway then burst into flames, as a result of petrol Watkins had poured around her house on Chapelhouse Lane in the early hours of June 3.

Watkins, 34, of Smiths Close, Alcester, pleaded guilty to two counts of arson with intent to endanger life, and was handed a 10-year sentence, along with an additional four years to be served on licence.

Prosecutor Mr Howard Searle said Watkins and the adult victim, who, along with her daughter, cannot be named for legal reasons, had an 'on and off' relationship for around six to seven months.

The relationship broke down and on May 27 the defendant sent a threatening text message.

In fear the victim stayed at her mother's for a few days but on June 2 had returned home. The victim woke in the early hours to find Watkins in her home. As the fire started, he fled. The woman rushed to her daughter's room, dialled 999 and also called out to neighbours.

Unable to escape through the front door, she lowered her daughter down from an upstairs window to the neighbours below. She only managed to get out when the emergency services arrived.

Neither victim was physically injured, but in a statement read out in court, the woman said both she and her daughter suffered nightmares.

Her statement concluded: "He knew that my daughter was the only way that he could hurt me, and he clearly determined to in the most severe way imaginable."

When he was caught in his car by police Watkins covered himself and his car in petrol, but was arrested after a small fire.

The defendant told the court: "I'm sorry for what's happened. I hope that I can get the help. And I'm sorry to the family."