Arsonist guilty of family attack

Stafford hurled abuse at the judge and jury

A man has been found guilty of fire-bombing his family's Nottingham home while they were asleep inside.

Andrew Stafford, 25, attacked the property on Wells Road in St Ann's to get revenge on his step-father. Five people had to be rescued.

He was also convicted of a fire attack on another house nearby on the same night in March 2007. Police said it was down to luck that no-one was hurt.

The judge at Nottingham Crown Court adjourned sentencing for reports.

But Judge John Burgess said Stafford, who denied charges of arson with intent to endanger life, should expect a jail term for the protection of the public.

If it wasn't for (the fire service's) prompt action this could have been a murder investigation Det Insp Leigh Sanders, Nottinghamshire Police

The court heard that Stafford was drunk and had taken drugs on the night of the attacks.

He targeted his step-father - who was not actually at home - because he blamed him for a spell in prison, the jury was told.

Det Insp Leigh Sanders, of Nottinghamshire Police, said were it not for a stroke of luck, things could have been far worse.

He said: "The petrol bomb was thrown through the window in the early hours of the morning and the occupants were in bed upstairs.

"It was just fortunate there was an individual sleeping on the settee downstairs and that person raised the alarm.

"The fire service was called and they did a brilliant job getting the people out of the address and if it wasn't for that prompt action this could have been a murder investigation."

The court heard the other attack was carried out five hours earlier in Dowson Street with the intention of intimidating a family Stafford thought would incriminate him for a burglary.

Speaking after the verdict Stafford's mother, Carole Holehouse, described what he did as unforgivable.

"It was very frightening," she said. "I heard this bang and I started to panic because the room started getting full of black, thick smoke.

"I can't believe my own flesh and blood could do that. But all I've done for him is help him... I'll never forgive him because he tried to kill me."