A jilted boyfriend was found guilty 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 July Road, 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.
Rowan, who also lived in July Road, denied assault and arson reckless as to whether life was endangered.
He was cleared of the assault but was found guilty of the arson charge after a trial at Liverpool Crown Court.
Prosecutors said the couple began a relationship last spring but Rowan turned out to be a “jealous and paranoid” boyfriend.
He received a police caution for smashing her front window during a row at the start of August.
Rowan was then arrested after lighted paper was put through her letterbox – but no charges were brought against him.
Lee Bonner, prosecuting, said the couple resumed their relationship but she decided to end it “once and for all” in November.
He alleged that Rowan let himself into her house with his key on November 5 and shoved her, bruising her arm.
Mr Bonner said the defendant then bombarded her with text messages between November 5 and 7.
She spent the night of November 7 at her mum’s address and left the dog locked in her kitchen.
Arson attack on a house in July Road, Anfield.
At around 7.25am the next day, a passer-by saw smoke coming from her house and called emergency services. Miss Arnold was alerted by a neighbour and ran home.
Rowan sent her a text at around 9am, which read: “Some random fella stopped me this morning saying your house smelt of burning. Is everything okay?”
Firefighters found the house was locked – which prosecutors said proved the arsonist had a key – and estimated that two fires were lit at around 7.30am.
Police spoke to Rowan’s boss at a catering company – around three miles away – who said he was due in work at 7.30am. CCTV footage showed he arrived late at 7.39am.
A co-worker said Rowan also told her he had been flagged down by a foreign man about a fire at his ex-girlfriend’s house.
She said he told her he could see the home’s windows were black, but told the man “nothing to do with me, I’m on my way to work”.
Rowan accepted having a key to the house but said he did not enter the building after the couple broke up.
He told the jury he didn’t see the home’s windows were black and repeated that the blaze was nothing to do with him.
Rowan – who also refused to tell police how he travelled to work that morning – said he was “gutted” when they split up because he loved her.
Mr Bonner said: “He was asked why he didn’t phone the emergency services or go to the house to alert or rescue her, but said it was nothing to do with him and he was going to work.”
Judge Alan Conrad, QC, adjourned sentencing until March 23 so a psychiatric report and victim impact statement could be obtained. He remanded Rowan in custody.
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Source: http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/