A jilted boyfriend went on trial accused of starting a fire at his ex-partner’s home which killed her dog.
Danny Rowan, 34, was arrested after a blaze at Jodie Arnold’s house in Tuebrook on November 8 last year.
Miss Arnold and her three children were not at home, but her Staffordshire bull terrier Naz died of smoke inhalation.
Liverpool Crown Court heard the couple lived “virtually opposite each other” in July Road and began a relationship last spring.
Lee Bonner, prosecuting, said: “Unfortunately the defendant turned out to be a rather jealous boyfriend, was paranoid and would accuse her of flirting with other men.”
He said the “volatility” of their relationship was shown when they scuffled during an argument and Rowan smashed her front window. He received a police caution for the offence.
The next night, on August 2, someone put lit paper through her letterbox, causing a small fire.
Mr Bonner said: “She didn’t see who did it. The defendant was arrested but no charges were brought against him.”
Arson attack on a house in Tuebrook.
He said the couple started seeing each other again, but Miss Arnold decided to end the relationship “once and for all”.
Mr Bonner said Rowan let himself into her home with his key on November 5.
He said the defendant snatched her mobile phone to see if she was talking to other men.
The court heard Miss Arnold tried to get it back but he shoved her away, causing her to fall to the floor and suffer a bruised right arm.
Mr Bonner said he sent her 49 text messages of a “jealous, controlling and abusive tone” between November 5 and 7.
He sent a text saying “sorry to bother you and your fella” at around 11pm on November 7, despite her saying she was not seeing anyone.
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Miss Arnold spent the night at her mum’s address and left the dog locked in her kitchen.
At around 7.25am the next day, a passer-by saw smoke coming from her house and called emergency services. Miss Arnold was alerted and ran home.
She suspected Rowan had started the fire after he sent a text at around 9am, saying: “Some random fella stopped me this morning saying your house smelt of burning. Is everything okay?”
Mr Bonner said firefighters found the house was locked, meaning any potential arsonist must have had a key to the home.
He said: “The only other person with a key is the defendant.”
Fire investigators believe two fires were lit, one in a lounge and one in Miss Arnold’s bedroom, at around 7.30am.
Scene of a fire in Tuebrook, believed to have been deliberate. A dog died in the fire at the home of a woman and her three children.
Police spoke to Rowan’s boss at a catering company – around three miles away – who said he had been due in work at 7.30am. CCTV footage showed he arrived late at 7.39am.
When interviewed by police, Rowan refused to say how he travelled to work that morning.
He said he was “gutted” when the couple split up because he loved her and had sent a text to Miss Arnold’s mum asking if everything was okay.
Rowan denies assault and arson reckless as to whether life was endangered.
(Proceeding)
Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/