AN ARSONIST that set fire to a home left his victims “in genuine fear for their lives”.

Police say Shane McCarthy, 27, of Granby Grove is a “dangerous individual” whose actions could “quite easily have had tragic consequences”.

On April 29, McCarthy was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison.

It came after he set a property he was renting on fire following a row with his housemates.

At 1.20am on January 8, police were called to the property as the occupants believed someone was trying to break in.

READ MORE: Man set Southampton property on fire with housemates inside

McCarthy gained entry through the kitchen window and the two men locked themselves into a bedroom.

But having failed to open the bedroom door, McCarthy stopped shouting and the two victims heard popping sounds before the fire alarm started going off.

As the two men left the house, they could see smoke filling the property and a smoky fire on top of the kitchen stove, but no sign of McCarthy.

Police arrived and McCarthy returned to the address, where he was arrested.

After he was sentenced, a Hampshire Constabulary spokesman said: "By putting McCarthy behind bars, a dangerous individual has been taken off the streets and we hope this result reassures our communities that we will do all we can to get justice for victims of crime."

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