A MAN torched a home causing £100,000 of damage following a row over a children's computer game, a court heard.

Jack Costello, 34, smashed windows at the home in Anchor Avenue, Darwen, and poured petrol inside before setting it alight, the prosecution, opening their case, told the jury.

The fire wrecked the living room, and also extensively damaged the rest of the three-bedroomed property, Preston Crown Court heard.

Mike Lavery, prosecuting, said Costello had bought petrol at a garage minutes before police and fire officers were at the scene. The resident of the house, June McCann, was not home at the time of the fire on August 24 last year.

Mr Lavery told the jury that there were rumours that June's son had stolen the PlayStation Three games console belonging to Costello's child and that this was the motivation for what happened.

Costello of Hart Road, Fallowfield, Manchester, denies arson with intent to endanger life and an alternative of reckless arson.

Mr Lavery said Costello had a child by a woman living opposite Ms McCann's house. He said: "The prosecution say the fire was the culmination of a night of abuse and threats by the defendant to the occupants of that house in Anchor Avenue.

"Earlier that night he had been seen banging on the door, irate, agitated and in temper, shouting obscenities through the letterbox".

At about 3am the following morning neighbours heard a woman shouting "no Jack" or "stop Jack, don't Jack", Mr Lavery told the jury.

The court head that at 4.35am a taxi driver had collected the defendant from another address in Anchor Avenue. Mr Lavery said Costello was taken by to the BP garage on the Anchor estate where he was seen to put petrol in a can he bought.

The fuel was dispensed at 4.50am and at 4.58am police and fire services were putting out the fire.

A forensic scientist found BP petrol had been involved.

A statement made by June McCann was read to the jury described her living room as being destroyed, as were all the downstairs rooms.

She said: "The person who did this had no way of knowing there was nobody in the house."

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