A COUPLE and their two terrified young children were trapped in their home when a drink-fuelled man went on an arson and burglary spree, Bradford Crown Court heard today (Monday).

Luke Patchett will receive a lengthy jail sentence tomorrow (Tuesday) morning after a blaze he started spread to the family’s home in Clapham Street, Denholme, in the early hours of June 13.

Patchett, 33, of Bolton Hall Road, Wrose, Shipley, appeared before the court on a video link to HMP Leeds to be sentenced for setting fire to a Peugeot car and arson being reckless as to whether property would be destroyed or damaged and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

Prosecutor Tayo Dasaolu said he had been drinking at a man’s home in Main Road, Denholme, when there was an argument between them in the early hours.

Patchett stole his phone and threw a brick through his window. He then smashed a second window at the address with another object.

Miss Dasaolu said he had pleaded guilty to theft and criminal damage in relation to those matters.

He then set a silver Peugeot on fire in Knowles Street in the village and a home owner’s garage in Hill Crest Road.

He interfered with vehicles before burgling a woman’s home and making off with her keys and vehicle.

After his arrest, Patchett failed to provide a sample of saliva for Class A drugs analysis and made no comment when questioned by the police.

He had 40 previous convictions for 71 offences, including theft and house burglary.

The woman whose house caught fire said in her victim impact statement, read out in court, that the family had since moved out of their home of seven years.

Afterwards, she couldn’t sleep for more than four hours at a time and the two small children woke up screaming and crying. They were inconsolable, she said.

She recalled being woken by the alarm and seeing thick black smoke. The couple were very fire conscious and had installed smoke alarms and mini-fire extinguishers on every floor but they were trapped.

“The only hope we had was that the fire crew would get to us soon and get us out,” she said.

Her husband told her that one or both of their cars were on fire and it had spread to the house.

“Get the kids and get upstairs,” he shouted.

The neighbours were watching in the street and she saw blue lights coming.

The fire service put out the blaze, extracted the smoke from the house and escorted the family to safety.

They were taken to hospital by ambulance, with the children shivering in their pyjamas.

“We can’t go back to our home, it no longer feels like home,” she said.

They would either be homeless or have to take out a bigger mortgage on a new address.

Miss Dasaolu said very serious psychological harm had been caused, including to two young children, and economic hardship suffered by the family having to leave their home.

Gerald Hendron said in mitigation that Patchett had no previous convictions for arson.

He had been drinking and ‘something quite extraordinary’ occurred to make him act in this way. His recollection of that night was limited but he accepted full responsibility for his actions.

He had expressed deep regret and sorrow for what he did. He never intended to harm anyone but recognised that it was a consequence of him setting fire to the car that the house caught light and the family were trapped.

He was due to be married at the time and he had the offer of work in a warehouse until he was remanded in prison.

Mr Hendron said Patchett had got himself a job while on remand in HMP Leeds and knew he would receive a lengthy custodial sentence.

His psychiatrist did not find that he was public danger, under the legal meaning of the act, although the court heard that his probation officer disagreed.

Recorder Ben Nolan KC adjourned sentence until 10am tomorrow.

He said he needed time to think about the case.

Patchett was remanded back into custody until then.