A MAN who set fire to a car parked outside a family home in a revenge attack was told by the judge he was fortunate not to be going immediately to prison.

Mathew Fulford was seen on CCTV at Morrisons Petrol Station in Tong Street, Bradford, filling a can with petrol before destroying a silver Vauxhall Vectra on the nearby Holme Wood Estate.

Fulford, 37, of Broadstone Way, Holme Wood, was at first charged with arson being reckless as to whether property and life would be endangered but his plea to the lesser offence of simple arson was accepted.

Prosecutor Becky Jane told Bradford Crown Court on Tuesday that he set the car on fire on September 1, 2020 after a disagreement.

The woman householder was woken by a loud bang just before 1am and saw the vehicle engulfed in flames.

Miss Jane said it was parked close to the front door of the property and the blaze set the garden fence alight. An eye witness saw Fulford driving away from the scene.

The £1,000 car was destroyed, although the emergency services were there in minutes.

CCTV showed Fulford walking round the Vectra throwing fuel at it and then setting it on fire.

Social media messages suggested he was out to seek revenge, the court was told.

He at first made no comment to the police’s questions and then gave an account saying he had petrol on his trainers from a strimmer and he frequently had bonfires.

The car’s owner stated that she no longer felt safe in her home. Although the insurance company had paid out, she had still incurred £557 in expenses for clothing, car seats and fencing.

Fulford had four previous convictions for seven offences but nothing similar and his last offence was in 2003.

Eddison Flint said in mitigation that Fulford knew it was extremely serious.

He was very remorseful, ashamed and utterly regretful.

It was almost two years since the offence and he had kept out of trouble since.

He was a hardworking man who was the registered carer for his son.

Judge Ahmed Nadim said Fulford was motivated by revenge. He bought a substantial amount of accelerant and the fire was in a residential area.

The victim was greatly distressed and inconvenienced.

Fulford was sentenced to 16 months imprisonment, suspended for two years, with a six-month curfew order and 25 rehabilitation activity days.

Judge Nadim made a compensation order in the sum of £1,000.

“You are a very fortunate man to be leaving the courtroom through that door,” he told Fulford.