AN EMOTIONAL pub boss allegedly started a blaze which put the lives of his terrified girlfriend and two young children in danger, a jury was told.

Philip Swarsbrick, 34, the then manager of the Fighting Cocks, Cliviger, either meant to put the trio in danger or "couldn't care less," if they were, Burnley Crown Court was told.

He had told a barman :"OK, then they are going to burn," after the worker refused to tell Swarsbrick where in the pub, the woman and the youngsters were, the court heard.

The defendant, said to have had a 'volatile' relationship with former partner Emma Kelly, had barricaded her and the children into a locked bathroom in a flat on the premises.

They were found by police and the part-time bar assistant, John Askew, who heard screaming from the bathroom. Student Mr Askew, 18, told the court how Miss Kelly, who was huddled on the floor with the children, was very scared and at one point fainted.

But Swarsbrick's barrister claimed Mr Askew had been suspected of stealing from the pub and his evidence was a way of getting back at his former boss.

Mr Askew, questioned by Mark Lamberty, prosecuting, said there had earlier been tension between Swarsbrick and Miss Kelly and he had hit her twice with a book leaving her sobbing.

Mr Askew said when officers arrived Swarsbrick was in the bar sitting at a table with a cigarette. The barman said he could smell smoke, went upstairs and then could see it going into the flat where Miss Kelly and the children were.

Cross-examined by John Woodward, defending, Mr Askew agreed Swarsbrick and Miss Kelly had had a volatile relationship and each gave as good as they got verbally and occasionally physically.

(Proceeding)