A SOUTHAMPTON man caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to his lover’s home in an arson attack when he suspected she was cheating on him with another man.

Despite being banned from seeing her under a bail condition, Karl Robinson spent much of the day drinking with Jane Conduit until they rowed.

After she went off with another woman, he went to her home in Southampton and let himself in with a key before sending a series of texts which included a threat to torch her house.

The city crown court heard Robinson fell asleep but after he woke up, found a pile of her clothes on a sofa and set them alight, thinking the fire would go out after he left.

However, when he tried to re-enter the house in Northolt Gardens, Lordshill, he realised he had left his key in the property. The fire did not go out and when he heard the siren of approaching fire engines, he ran off.

They had been contacted by a neighbour after his son had seen the fire in the property, said prosecutor David Jenkins.

Arrested at a house in Portswood, he said he knew about the incident, but when police examined his phone, they found the texts which ended with one to Ms Conduit saying “I’m sorry.”

Robinson, 25, of Lawn Road, Southampton, admitted arson being reckless as to whether the lives of others might be endangered, The court heard the fire caused about £9,000 worth of damage after the fire spread from the sofa and the whole house was smokelogged but there was little danger of it spreading, Mr Jenkins added.

Jailing him for 32 months, Judge Peter Crabtree accepted the arson had not been carefully planned and his behaviour had been affected by drink but there was an element of revenge in his perceived lack of fidelity. He also noted that in the probation report he was regarded as presenting a medium risk of causing serious harm to the public.

In mitigation, Paul Fairley said the pair had been drinking from 9.30am.

“Matters came to a head because of the alcohol and he became convinced that she was sleeping with another man. Thankfully the fire brigade arrived and put the fire out as quickly as they did.”