A 22-year-old man accused of murdering a mother and her two children told a jury he never intended to burn their home or hurt anyone.

Asjid Mahmood said he lit petrol-soaked paper outside the house in Hendford Drive, Pollard Park, Bradford, and ran off without looking back.

He told the trial at Bradford Crown Court yesterday he was angry and wanted to frighten the children’s father, Zaheer Shah, because he was sick of being bullied and walked over.

Mr Shah’s daughter, Alina, ten, and son, Aman, eight, died in the fierce blaze on July 6 last year.

Their mother, Iram Shah, Mr Shah’s former wife, died six days later after leaping from the burning building.

Asjid Mahmood and his brother, Arshed Mahmood, 18, both of Pollard Lane, Undercliffe, Bradford, deny murdering Mrs Shah and the two children.

Asjid Mahmood said that Mr Shah landed him in debt by not paying his share of loan instalments on a Seat Leon FR car they bought to hire out. He said he was paying Mr Shah’s mobile phone bill and was told on the day of the fire that Mr Shah’s utility bills were also in his name.

Asjid Mahmood said he was so broke he could not afford to buy his nephews a birthday present or card. He was driven to steal money from his family’s business, Barkerend Fisheries.

On the night of July 5, he decided to set fire to the Seat Leon that he saw as the source of his problems.

He said he paid to fill a can with petrol and persuaded his brother, Arshed, to go with him to Hendford Drive.

His brother knew of his problems but did not want any part of the idea. He asked to be dropped at home but Asjid Mahmood said he persuaded him to go with him.

When they arrived, Arshed stayed in the car while Asjid Mahmood searched for the Seat Leon that he thought Mr Shah was using.

When he could not find it, he decided to light a fire outside the house.

“I was angry and I wanted to express my frustration and relieve my anger. I wanted to frighten Zaheer because I could not confront him directly,” Asjid Mahmood told the court.

“I was sick of being pushed around and bullied and walked over.”

After lighting the paper, he ran back to the car and his brother drove them away.

“I was just shaking and I told him to drive. I didn’t think I’d be capable of doing it and I did,” he said.

“I expected the paper to burn and leave loads of black ash behind and be put out by someone.”

Soon afterwards, he learned that the house was on fire and the children were missing.

Asjid Mahmood said he did not want to kill or hurt Iram Shah, the children, or Mr Shah.

“I just wanted to get his attention, to be taken seriously, because I was so sick of being pushed around,” he said.

The trial continues.