Jail for bullied man who set fire to ironing board (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Jail for bullied man who set fire to ironing board

A MAN driven to despair by bullies set fire to an ironing board in the house he shared with his wife and children as a cry for help.

Gloucester Crown Court heard that Christopher Little, 37, started the fire in Berkeley Close, South Cerney, in the belief his actions would see the family moved.

Disaster was averted when Little's wife Tina moved the ironing board from the bottom of the stairs to the garden.

Giles Nelson, mitigating, said that the bullying began shortly after Little was cautioned last April in relation to an allegation of indecent assault on a teenage boy.

"People put burning newspapers through his door. He felt a prisoner in his own home," said Mr Nelson. "This obviously was a cry for help."

Since the fire, arrangements have been made to move the family to Wiltshire.

Outlining the events in the early hours of October 30, prosecutor Robert Duvall said: "The defendant consumed approximately 10 pints of cider."

"At around 12.45am he was in bed with his wife and said, 'If I torch the place that will help us get a move.'

"He went downstairs to phone the emergency services and told the operator that he proposed to set a fire then handed Mrs Little the phone.

"He used a lighter to set light to an ironing board. Mrs Little was advised to take the board into the garden and this she courageously did."

Little admitted a charge of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

A not guilty verdict was recorded to a charge of damaging property with intent to endanger life.

Little, who has been in custody since the end of October, was sentenced to 15 months in prison.