AN emotional Burnley teenager threatened to burn his mum's house down on the second anniversary of his father's death, a court was told.

Kristian Simpson, 19, who had also caused trouble at his mum's the day before, thought it would attract the victim's sympathy as he had nowhere to live.

Simpson, of Coal Clough Lane, Burnley, admitted threatening to destroy or damage property on May 3. He was given a 12-month community order with supervision and 100 hours unpaid work. He was also told to pay £65 costs.

Julie Reddish, prosecuting, said the defendant had been cautioned over the incident the day before.

He went back to his mum's, climbed up a rear yard wall and said: "If I don't find somewhere to stay tonight I will burn your house down and get locked up for life."

He was arrested and made no comment. Simpson had no previous convictions.

David Lawson,defending, described the case as sad and added that Simpson regretted his behaviour.

Both mum and son had been stressed and emotional. Simpson went home, hoping his mum would let him return, but she wouldn't.

The solicitor told the court: "In the heat of the moment, he made a comment to her in the hope she would look sympathetically on him because he had nowhere to live."