A DRUNKEN man twice set fire to the door of the flat where his terrified pregnant partner was living.

Jonathan Humphreys, 30, had gone to the flat where he and Samantha Hall had been living, with an aim to end the relationship, Chester Crown Court heard on Wednesday, June 3.

But when Miss Hall refused to let him in, Humphreys – who was seen to be under the influence – twice tried to set the door on fire by lighting newspaper in the letterbox.

Prosecuting, Chris Hopkins said the hallway filled with thick smoke and damaged the door as a result.

The couple had previously been living rough on the streets of Chester city centre before finding accommodation in Waterbank Row, Northwich, before this incident on April 4.

Humphreys pleaded guilty to reckless arson, after prosecutors accepted he had not intended to endanger Miss Hall's life.

Judge Patrick Thompson jailed him for three years.

Mr Hopkins said it was sometime before 6am when Humphreys arrived at the flat, banging on the door, wanting to be let in.

Miss Hall looked out from the first floor window and saw Humphreys looked "out of it". He was shouting at her and being verbally abusive.

After kicking the bins and leaving, Humphreys returned.

The smoke alarms to the flat went off and Miss Hall saw the front door was on fire, with thick black smoke entering the hallway.

Miss Hall used a broom and a pint of water in a glass to put out the fire.

The court heard Miss Hall was 19 weeks pregnant with Humphreys' child.

Humphreys returned, said he was going to call the police, and said: "I'm going to get the baby taken off you."

Again, Humphreys put newspaper through the letterbox and started a fire, which again Miss Hall had to put out with a broom, despite saying she "could not breathe" due to the smoke.

Humphreys threw items at the window before cycling off. Police arrived moments later, with Humphreys later arrested nearby.

The fires caused minor damage, including smoke damage, and the victim was not harmed.

Humphreys gave a no comment interview when arrested and Miss Hall did not wish to make a statement.

Humphreys had convictions in the past for battery, domestic violence and threatening behaviour, but none for arson.

Judge Thompson remarked: "It seems to me the victim is pretty vulnerable if she is 19 weeks pregnant."

Defending, Michael Gray said a pre-sentence report and references had been prepared for Humphreys.

Humphreys had not intended to endanger the life of Miss Hall, and accepted their relationship had been volatile.

He had gone to the flat to collect his final possessions and "leave for good."

After being refused entry, he knew the smoke alarms at the flat were very sensitive and hoped to set them off by lighting a piece of paper.

Humphreys had lost a previous job due to his drug habits.

Since going into prison, from being on a methadone prescription he was now no longer taking it.

He has a loving family in Warrington, where he was from originally, who are concerned about him and are willing to give him one last chance, Mr Gray told the court.

He added: "He is clearly capable of making very useful work to society."

Humphreys also insisted the relationship between himself and Miss Hall was at an end, and he wanted to "make a new life outside of custody".

Judge Thompson, sentencing, said: "I am not sentencing you on the basis that you intended to burn down the flat, but you were extremely reckless, no doubt because you were under the influence of drink and drugs.

"She was 19 weeks pregnant with your child. Your actions endangered them and anybody in neighbouring flats. It was an incredibly dangerous and reckless thing to do.

"You need to deal with your drug addiction. Mr Gray tells me you are doing that in prison and that is impressive.

"Everybody deals with relationship breakdowns and you need to deal with it better."

After sentencing Humphreys to three years in jail, Judge Thompson warned him his next offence might raise the issue of dangerousness, for which Humphreys could then be expected to serve two-thirds of an extended sentence.