A COURT heard how a man made "chilling" threats to burn down his flat and kill his neighbours due to frustration over property repairs.

Prosecutor Adam Walker told Bradford Crown Court that police were called to a commotion at the property on Cliffe Terrace in Baildon on the afternoon of June 14 this year and had to force entry when the occupant refused to open the door.

Mohammed Ilyas was arrested in the flat, which had been extensively damaged.

In an interview with police, he demanded the keys to his flat and said: “I’m going to burn that house down and kill them all. I’ll set fire to that place from the basement.”

He repeated his threats whilst under caution, claiming: “I’ll do it. I’ll kill all of them.”

Mr Walker said: “The interviewing officer was moved to comment that the threats seemed convincing and even chilling.”

One comment, referring to “a white b*****d" was said to be directed at his landlord.

Ilyas, 33, later pleaded guilty to making threats to kill, and criminal damage.

The court heard he had a lengthy criminal record dating back to 2006 including for damage, threats to commit damage, and robbery and possession of a knife, for which he was jailed for 15 months.

Mitigating, Hana Ahmed said Ilyas, who suffered from a mental health disorder, had undergone a breakdown following a frustrating three-year struggle to persuade his landlord to repair his flat.

She said he accepted he had been aggressive but that he had been suffering from depression and anxiety, and had also made attempts to take his life.

She said he had resorted to taking drugs in order to cope with his mental health problems.

His Honour Judge Colin Burn told Ilyas, of Cliffe Terrace, that he would not benefit from a short-term prison sentence as he needed help to overcome his issues.

He said: “When you are emotionally well and not using drugs you can function perfectly well as a member of society.

“But when you are in a bad place – and when you have taken drugs – you can be viewed as being dangerous.”

He sentenced him to six months in prison suspended for two years and ordered him to undertake 30 rehabilitation activity requirement days including a 21-day thinking skills programme.