A man set fire to his family home and then sent a text message to his 16-year-old daughter telling her to get the fire brigade.

William Barber was later seen by firefighters standing in the back garden of his house in Langdale Court, Bingley, near to the fire-damaged conservatory.

Inside the building was a badly-burned gas cylinder which could have exploded and destroyed the detached home, magistrates in Bingley were told yesterday.

Barber, now of Agincourt Drive, Bingley, pleaded guilty to arson. The damage was put at £20,000.

The Bench ruled they did not have the power to sentence him and Barber was committed to Bradford Crown Court for sentence.

Nadine Clough, prosecuting, said Barber’s wife Louise and daughter, Georgina, had left the family home, on December 7, concerned about his aggressive and threatening behaviour.

The house was for sale and Barber had threatened to “trash” the place. He was continuing to use the conservatory as an office.

At 2.15pm on December 9, the 56-year-old had sent a text to his daughter saying “Geanna the house is on fire – I don’t know how it happened. I suggest you get the fire brigade.”

The court heard that Barber had earlier bought fuel in a can at a petrol filling station in Bingley using a credit card. Two days before, Mrs Barber had noticed that a petrol can was missing from the garage.

When arrested, Barber denied setting fire to the conservatory, claiming he had blacked out because of the medication he was taking and had no recollection of seeing firefighters or sending text messages.

Tom Rushbrook, for Barber, said the couple were selling the house and there had been acrimony between them.