CINDERFORD man Stephen Sheen, who was angry with his girlfriend for having an abortion, tried to get revenge by setting her flat on fire with burning socks, a court was told.

The 49-year-old, pictured, was caught after police saw a ladder outside Gemma Jackson's flat window in Cinderford, and spotted him standing nearby.

On the ground by the ladder was one burnt paper-stuffed sock – and in the bedroom was another. Luckily it had burnt out before causing any damage, said prosecutor Kirsty Real at Gloucester Crown Court.

Sheen, of Pullman House, pleaded guilty to attempted arson being reckless whether lives of neighbours of Ms Jackson were endangered on August 21 last year.

He was jailed for two-and-a-half years.

The court heard that Ms Jackson and her daughter were not in the flat at the time because Sheen had dumped her in Ross-on-Wye while they were out together.

He drove back to Cinderford and tried to burn the flat at about 3.45am but was thwarted by the arrival of passing police patrol officers.

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