A DRUNK and angry father of two who threatened to torch a house full of sleeping children, including his own two, in the early hours,was today starting a 15-month jail term.

Burnley Crown Court heard how roofer Steven Murray, 35, put accelerant against the door of a house in Accrington.

Judge Raymond Bennett told him the occupant, mother of three Carole Howe must have been horrified.

He added he accepted the defendant had no intention of burning the house down but said: "It is not what was in your mind that is the serious part of this offence, but what you created in the mind of Carole Howe."

Murray, formerly of Dineley Street, Church, and now of Hereford Road, Blackburn, had admitted threatening to destroy or damage property.

Jonathan Dickinson, prosecuting, said the defendant and his girlfriend Patricia Cooper had gone out for the night with Carole Howe and her partner.

They went to a pub in Oswaldtwistle, Murray and Miss Cooper fell out and she left.

Murray was angry and about 10 minutes later Miss Cooper returned to the pub to tell Miss Howe the defendant was going towards her house to get his two children who were there.

The three adults went back to Worcester Avenue, police were already there, Murray was advised to leave and did.

Mr Dickinson said the defendant returned about midnight, threatened to put Miss Howe's windows through and police were called again.

Murray again went back in the early hours and Carole Howe saw him holding a petrol can outside her house. He told her she had half an hour to get his son out or he would light it.

The defendant ran away and Miss Howe could smell petrol. Some form of accelerant had been poured through the letter box.

The prosecutor said the defendant was arrested later after being found fast asleep in a camper van. Seven children including the defendant's and two adults were in the house.

Ken Hind, defending, said Murray and Carole Howe's sister had been long-term partners and there had been a history of animosity. Carole Howe did not approve of the relationship. that Murray had been drinking, which was a problem for him, and he foolishly went back to the house to try and get his children. that Murray never intended to carry the threat out but stupidly thought extreme measures were called for. Nobody was harmed or injured and the relationship with his children, to whom he was very attached, had not been affected.

The defendant had a history of long term substance misuse, which included drugs and if the problem was addressed he would not come before the courts again.

Mr Hind added that since the offence, everything had calmed down. Murray was living with his partner and was working.