Jealous ex jailed for 32 months for starting caravan fire in Walsall

Stephen Hevican, 55, said he 'snapped' when he set alight a bin bag containing newspapers and dropped it through the window of the caravan on Bridge Road in Shelfield, Walsall.

Wolverhampton Crown Court heard on Monday that had the fire service arrived 10 minutes later then the house could have gone up in flames. The caravan, which was parked on the drive of the semi-detached home, was totally destroyed by the blaze in the early hours of September 30 last year.

Mr Nicholas Burns, prosecuting, told the court that Hevican had split with his wife in 2009 but they had had an on-off relationship. He said: "The complainant, the defendant's wife, had gone to bed but her new partner wasn't at home.

"She was woken up by the sound of a metal gate in the garden moving. She could the defendant climbing over the gate. He was wearing dark clothing. She called the police but when she looked out the window again she could see smoke billowing out of the caravan.

The fire brigade attended at 3.40am. And the house and neighbouring homes were evacuated."

The court was told how shortly after leaving the house Hevican was seen walking his dog next to the burning caravan.

He was pointed out by his former partner and arrested. Mr Burns added: "During interviews he said his intention was to burn the caravan not to hurt anyone. He said he did it because he heard his wife had a new man and he had snapped."

Mr Mohammed Rashid, defending Hevican, said:

"He is ashamed of what he did, he says it was out of order and it was out of character. "

Hevican of Yew Tree Road, Shelfield, Walsall admitted arson with intent to cause damage to property. He was jailed for 32 months by Judge Webb. Judge Webb also imposed a restraining order.