A suicidal husband suffered severe burns when he blew himself up setting fire to the family home, a court heard.

Philip McBride used solvent to torch the house in Ewart Place, Great Horton, Bradford, in what a judge branded a "desperate and wicked act".

Mr McBride risked the lives of elderly neighbours in the row of terrace houses and endangered firefighters, Judge Robert Bartfield said.

McBride, 46, was jailed for two years for arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

Bradford Crown Court heard yesterday that McBride, whose 20-year marriage to Lesley was in difficulty, suffered 18 per cent burns in the midnight blaze on March 4.

He was treated in intensive care and still bore the scars of the fire.

Prosecutor Andrew Conboy said the couple's marriage was "rocky, with regular arguments".

McBride threatened to kill himself at Ogden Water Reservoir in Calderdale, texting his teenage daughter with the warning, the court heard.

On a day mother and daughter were visiting Mrs McBride's elderly father in hospital, McBride texted: "Call the fire brigade, but it's too late".

A neighbour heard a loud bang and saw smoke and flames coming from the family home.

McBride, now of Netherlands Square, Low Moor, Bradford, was in the garden saying: "I don't care, let it burn," Mr Conboy said. He told firefighters he wanted to kill himself.

McBride, who was alone at the house, suffered flame burns to his head, hands, arms and feet.

He was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary and transferred to Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester, and then Pinderfields in Wakefield.

Firefighters found metal containers of solvent, tablets and alcohol at the house.

Mr Conboy said the blaze did £14,000 worth of damage to the property and the insurance company refused to pay out.

Mrs McBride was left devastated and stressed, the court heard.

Tim Stead, for McBride, said he had been emotional and desperate. He was not robust and could not cope with big changes in his life.

His father and two of his four brothers had died in a road accident. Another brother killed himself and their mother died of cancer, Mr Stead said.

Mr Stead said McBride's right hand was still "something of a mess" after he was injured in the explosion Mr McBride told the court he accepted he needed help and his marriage was over.

Judge Bartfield said McBride had been drinking when he decided to set fire to the house with a view to committing suicide.

"You were putting at risk not only your life but the lives of your neighbours because everybody knows how vicious a raging fire can be.

"It was the act of a desperate man but it was also a wicked act," the judge said.

He said the substantial blaze put firefighters at risk.

After the case, Detective Constable Joe Barr said: "The circumstances surrounding the offence can only be described as tragic for all of the parties concerned."