Jilted lover jailed after setting fire to ex's rubbish after one-week relationship
A jilted lover has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after setting fire to his ex's rubbish following a one-week relationship.
Jealous Daniel Lumsden, 42, of Birtley, Gateshead, thought he was in an exclusive romance with a woman he lived on the same street as.
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But when he learned she had spent a night with an ex, boozed-up Lumsden, of Lansbury Drive, confronted the pair at the woman's home.
A fight broke out between Lumsden and the other male on the evening of July 2 and the defendant returned to the house in the early hours the next morning with a jerry can and a lighter, Newcastle Crown Court heard.
He claimed he only set fire to a pair of trainers at the back door but Recorder Toby Hedworth KC was not buying the line, pointing to neighbours' statements that a pile of rubbish from his victim's bin ended up on the floor before being seen ablaze.
The court heard how bearded Lumsden, who appeared via video link from HMP Durham, had been seen by neighbours at the address banging on the back door while carrying a bottle of whisky, which he smashed, before the fight with the other lover took place.
Lumsden was overheard saying he would murder her and the other male, the court heard.
In the early hours of July 3 the defendant was caught on doorbell cameras walking back to the woman's home. She was not at the address.
But Lumsden was not to know and set fire to some rubbish.
A neighbour smelled burning plastic and spotted the fire, before pouring water over it to extinguish it.
When police arrived at Lumsden's address they found a jerry can that smelled of petrol and a lighter in the defendant's pocket.
As a result, he told police: "Haha - I'm f***** now - haha."
He pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Sentencing him 30 months in prison, Recorder Hedworth said: "I don't accept it was simply a case of setting fire to a pair of trainers and trying to put it out because a pile of rubbish tipped there wasn't there before.
"Any setting of fire at the point of exit from a residential property is inherently dangerous.
"Fortunately, she was not at the premises, and you weren't to know that.
"Sentences have got to send a message."
He was also given a five-year restraining order, preventing him from contacting the female and from entering Lansbury Drive.
Words: Matt Young