Arson man had voodoo fears

Incident was "a danger to lives of firefighters"

A bridegroom set fire to his house following a row with his wife because he though it was under a voodoo curse, a court has heard.

Adeyemi Dosumu, 43, from Splott in Cardiff, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after he admitted reckless arson.

Cardiff Crown Court heard the security guard doused his home in petrol and set fire to it in July 2002 after arguing with his wife of less than two months, Joanne Mogford.

The consequences of the fire were far from insignificant

Prosecutor Meirion Davies

The couple had met in March 2002 and had married by the end of May.

Prosecuting, Meirion Davies said: "Ms Mogford locked herself in the house but had a heated exchange with her husband.

"In fear, she left through the back door and went to a neighbour's house.

"The consequences of the fire were far from insignificant."

Dosumu lit the fire after his wife left, with flames from the blaze reaching up to 10ft in the air, the court was told.

He then sent Ms Mogford a text message which said: "I'll pay for the damage. From your husband. PS I think voodoo is in the house."

Your recklessness was a danger to the lives of firefighters

Judge Roderick Denyer QC

Defending, Lee Ingham said: "Dosumu has received love letters from his wife while still in prison.

"The arson was something of an emotional reaction - not a planned event.

"They had had highly emotional rows. It was a shocking incident in the midst of what then seemed to be a happy marriage."

Judge Roderick Denyer QC told Dosumu: "Your recklessness was a danger to the lives of firefighters.

"Setting fire to a dwelling house with petrol is very serious indeed."