AN arsonist who set fire to his ex-girlfriend’s home hours after being served with a court order banning him from approaching her has been locked up indefinitely.

Steven Banks, 22, broke into the house in Darlington and smashed Ashley Copeland’s furniture and belongings before starting three fires.

Teesside Crown Court heard how he slashed and poured bleach over Miss Copeland’s belongings and set fires in the living room, bedroom and on the landing on the evening of June 25.

Half-an-hour earlier, Banks had sent a text message to his former partner, saying: “You have got an hour to get to yours, alone, or mam and dad get it.”

A day before the arson attack, he was served with a non-molestation order which Miss Copeland had obtained at court to stop him contacting or approaching her.

When Banks was arrested, he told police he went to the house, in Bisley Court, Red Hall, to breach the order because he wanted to go to prison. He said he was aware there was an elderly woman living next door on one side, and a family with two young children on the other.

Cassie Davidson was in the house next door with her partner, Anthony Metcalfe, and children Ellie, one, and Emily, two months at the time.

She said last night: “It was absolutely petrifying. We know how lucky we are to be here today. If the smoke had got into Emily’s bedroom, it would have killed her, and if we had been in bed at the time I’m sure we could have died too.

“He didn’t care about us when he set that fire. He didn’t care that he could have killed us.”

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, told the court that £17,000- worth of damage was caused to the council property, and that all of Miss Copeland’s belongings were destroyed.

Banks, of Berwick Road, Darlington, admitted charges of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and breaching a non-molestation order.

Graeme Gaston, mitigating, urged Judge Michael Taylor not to impose an indefinite sentence for public protection because Banks’ past did not make him a danger.