A MAN who set fire to his partner’s house as a drunken reprisal, as she would not add his name to the deeds, was yesterday (Wednesday, November 25) jailed for two years and eight months.

Stephen Lloyd set three seats to the blaze, using barbecue briquettes in the lounge and kitchen, knowing the house insurance had not been renewed.

Durham Crown Court was told the cause was the resurfacing of the thorny deeds issue as drink was consumed during a barbecue in the garden of the five-bedroomed detached property, Hardy’s Lodge, in Trimdon Station, on Sunday, April 15.

His partner decided to leave, and rang her son to ask for a lift, fearing what Lloyd may do in anger.

Shaun Dodds, prosecuting, said Lloyd continued drinking and picked up a bag of briquettes stating he would set fire to the house.

After Lloyd’s partner was collected and left, a neighbour, aware of the earlier argument, overheard him singing: “The house is on fire, the house is on fire.”

Mr Dodds said the neighbour then saw smoke pouring from the front of the property, and called the fire brigade, as Lloyd was heard to shout: “I’m not coming out.”

Firefighters and police arrived at the premises, in Wingate Road, and Lloyd was arrested, before the blaze was extinguished, having caused “considerable” damage.

He initially denied starting the blaze, but subsequently made admissions, recalling it took place, “during a moment of madness”.

Lloyd, 48, of Newton Drive, Thornaby, who has been in custody since his arrest, admitted arson at an earlier hearing.

Mr Dodds said subsequent hearings have taken place to determine the exact value of the damage caused.

He said it remained an issue, as a construction manager for the prosecution estimated it to be £93,000, not including replacement of fixtures and fittings, while a surveyor for the defence put it at nearer £53,000.

But, as the court heard the defendant has no means of paying for the damage, the victim has been left to foot the bill.

In her victim impact statement she said she now feels uneasy and nervous, suffering panic attacks, and added that she was, “disgusted” someone claiming to love her could do such a thing.

Paul Abrahams, mitigating, said the defendant lost many of his own possessions in the fire.

Mr Abrahams, said that at the time Lloyd was seeking medical assistance for depression, but had not been diagnosed with anything.

But, stating that Lloyd was, “no pyromaniac”, Mr Abrahams added that he eventually hoped to be able to pay compensation from earnings from his hairdressing business following his release from prison.

Jailing him, Judge Christopher Prince told Lloyd that although he was undergoing depression, it was no excuse for his actions.

“In short, you got drunk and lost your temper, and decided to commit this offence.”

The judge also issued a restraining order preventing Lloyd from approaching or attempting to contact his former partner, “until further order”.