A YOUNG woman told a court yesterday she feared for her life after her drunken boyfriend set fire to the bedroom of their home.

Anthony Moroney, 40, is alleged to have started more than six fires before leaving the room and closing the door on terrified Gemma Nichols.

Miss Nichols, 21, told a jury at Teesside Crown Court that she panicked as the bedroom filled up with smoke and flames.

"I was sat in a corner of the room with no way to get out," she said. "Obviously, I was frightened."

Mr Moroney, of Newton Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, denies arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and false imprisonment.

He also pleaded not guilty to causing Miss Nichols actual bodily harm by grabbing her by the throat and throwing her against a fireplace after she called the police.

The court heard how the couple had spent much of the day of Christmas Eve last year in bed, sharing seven litres of strong cider, smoking cigarettes and watching TV.

It is alleged Mr Moroney started the fires by burning bedding after the couple argued, but put each one out himself.

Under cross-examination from Mr Moroney's barrister, Peter Makepeace, Miss Nichols denied the blaze was started accidentally by a discarded cigarette.

Mr Makepeace said: "I suggest that Mr Moroney and you spent the afternoon in what could properly be described as a drunken stupor and you don't have much memory of what happened."

Miss Nichols, who gave evidence via a video link, responded: "I know that he set fire to the bedroom. Obviously, we were both drunk but I knew what I was doing. I might have smoked in the bedroom but I didn't start a fire."

The case continues.