A MASKED man who torched his terrified love rival's Bacup home and later threatened his ex's uncle with a claw hammer has been jailed for five years.

Burnley Crown Court heard how delivery driver Craig Butterworth, 35, who had set himself alight whilst starting the fire, was unable to accept the breakdown of his relationship with Leah Topping and his conduct was emotional and irrational.

Butterworth, who went on to intimidate Miss Topping and her new boyfriend, had a previous conviction for setting fire to a car and a judge had to consider whether or not he was a danger to society.

Judge Beverley Lunt said she was obviously concerned about the fact the defendant had started blazes twice but she felt it was "unreasonable" to describe him as dangerous offender.

She said : "You had no control over that fire. You did not know what was going to happen to it."

Butterworth, recently of Meadow View, Rochdale, had admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, damage, affray and witness intimidation.

Michael Lavery, prosecuting, told the court the relationship between Butterworth and Miss Topping ended last July in the early hours she was at Mark Toolan's house.

Mr Toolan noticed a figure in the dark and saw a man crouched down wearing a balaclava with the eyes cut out. The man shouted to Mr Toolan to get Leah outside and Mr Toolan, who was scared, rang the police. As he did that two bricks went through his kitchen windows.

Police arrived and as they took statements from Mr Toolan and Miss Topping they had a hoax 999 call which took them away from the incident.The defendant was later found to be responsible for the call.

The prosecutor said when officers responded to the call they left the premises and were dealing with that when Butterworth returned to Mr Toolan's home, poured petrol over the front door and set it alight. In the process he set himself on fire and police later noticed he was injured.

Mr Lavery said Butterworth was arrested on July 14, denied being responsible for the attack on the house and claimed the police were jokers and were taking the mickey..

Mr Lavery said Darren Bradley, Miss Topping's uncle, had been called by the defendant to try and get him to be an alibi.

Mr Bradley had not been prepared to lie for him and Butterworth turned up at his workplace, threatened him with a claw hammer and said he was going to kill him.

The defendant had previous convictions going back to the 1980s.

Peter Horgan, defending, said Butterworth had difficulty in controlling his feelings.

Mr Horgan said: "He has managed to stay out of trouble for four years.

"He has led a productive life and been in employment for most of that time."