A SERIAL arsonist who burnt down a farming family's barn as an act of revenge has been sentenced to four years behind bars.

Shaun Traves, 34, was told at Teesside Crown Court that even after release he must not go near the Spilman family farm, near Helperby in North Yorkshire.

Traves, a father-of-one, had burnt down the same barn before in 2009 and was sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment which he held a grudge against the Spilmans.

The court heard that on the night of September 4 last year, Traves, of Alne Road, Easingwold, had drunk 16 pints in the Golden Lion in Helperby. In that time he attempted a reconciliation with Tom Spilman but his advances were rejected.

An earlier trial heard Traves had gone on to threaten to beat up Tom Spilman and "burn him out." He was later seen walking toward the barn shortly before midnight and the barn caught fire shortly afterwards. Despite that evidence, Traves had pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The fire at the Dutch barn which contained 2,000 bales of hay, a tractor and farming equipment, was so intense it could be seen several miles away and it took six fire engines with six crew members each to contain the blaze. The fire caused £180,000 of damage.

Richard Spilman, patriarch of the family, read out his victim statement at court yesterday (Friday, Aug 12). He said his wife, Sally, had been so emotionally drained by the fire she had become ill and she had started to barricade the farm each night.

He said: "We have felt extremely vulnerable...My concern is that on release he will be allowed back and we wish for Traves not to allowed back to this area to cause us any more harm."

Lorraine Harris, defending, said Traves' partner, Laura Bland and his parents, had stood by him. Traves' parents had various ailments and relied on his help. He was a devoted father of a 16-month-old boy who worked and provided for his family.

Recorder Simon Kealey, sentencing, said the most important fact was that Traves had set fire the barn as an act of revenge. He must serve two-thirds of his sentence before he can be considered for parole.

Traves, a gamekeeper who had been a poultry manager, had previously been jailed for his first arson on the Spilmans barn in 2009. However he had previous convictions for setting fire to an allotment shed, hedge, front door and a shed dating back to 2005.

As well as his four-year custodial sentence Traves will be 'on licence' for another year which means he will immediately be sent back to jail if he reoffends.