Grandfather set fire to his own home with his grandchildren inside because of holiday

A grandad set fire to his home while his young grandchildren were inside because his wife threatened to go on holiday without him.

Brian Pickering, 64, from Brambles Farm, Middlesbrough, deliberately started two fires in September last year while five of his relatives were inside the semi-detached property. 

The court heard the arson attack had been a half-hearted suicide attempt by Pickering, who was furious after his wife Margaret threatened to go away without him.

It was only through 'good chance' that none of his family died in the blaze, the court was told.

Pickering, who suffered burns in the fire, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether lives were endangered.

He was jailed for six years and three months during a sentencing hearing at Teesside Crown Court. 

Prosecutor Rachel Masters told the court that Mrs Pickering had been downstairs with their two grandchildren, aged three and five, when her husband deliberately started the fires in their bedroom. 

At the time, his son Brian junior and his partner Donna Whithead were in bed in the next room.

The court heard Mrs Pickering heard a series of bangs and went upstairs, where she saw the bedroom was full of smoke.

She and Miss Whithead then ran downstairs to get the children out of the house.

Pickering jumped out of the window to escape the fire, before telling his wife: 'I told you years ago that I would never let you leave me'. He was then taken to hospital for treatment.

Dailym