A FIREBOMBER who left a Burnley family in terror as he lurched towards their home with a ‘Molotov cocktail’ hurling threats, has been jailed for six years.

Paul Simpson, 33, had constructed two home-made petrol bombs after a long-running dispute with the victims, who cannot be named for legal reasons, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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Luckily, he dropped one while making his way down the street and the petrol bomb he did hurl at the family home only caused a foot-high fire near to the front door, the court heard.

In fact Simpson only managed to singe his own hair and was left with burns on his hands after carrying the flaming petrol bomb. He was forced to ditch his T-shirt and desperately pat down his head to extinguish the flames.

Jailing him yesterday, Judge Beverley Lunt said it was clear there had been a dispute between the defendant and the family beforehand.

“But there were no matters that would have ever given rise to such a drastic response from any right-thinking person,” said Judge Lunt.

“The effects could have been catastrophic, especially with the children who were playing upstairs.”

Later he told a probation officer: “If I was going out, then I was going to take him with me.”

Prosecutor Francis McEntee said a couple were at home with their sons and an even younger neighbour’s son when the mother saw Simpson advancing with the petrol bombs.

The father managed to close the front door, which was usually open, before the petrol bomb was thrown. Later the father chased Simpson away but could not catch him as he fled.

Simpson, of Cog Lane, Burnley, admitted a charge of arson with intent to endanger life. He was also ordered to serve an extended licence period of three years and a restraining order was issued, preventing him from having any contact with the family for five years.

The court heard Simpson claimed he had previously been chased by the father with a machete - but he accepted he was not under immediate threat at the time of the offence.

Psychiatric reports had not supported earlier suspicions that the defendant suffered from schizophrenia, though he was known to have depressive episodes.

Robert Elias, defending, said: “He was not very good at being an arsonist - he only managed to set fire to himself at the end of the day.”

Simpson had the support of his family, said Mr Elias, who still cared for him.

He told the court there had been a history between the parties.