Woman left 'fearing for her life' after man smashes up flat then sets it on fire

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

A man who set fire to a woman's flat after an argument has been jailed. Simon Edgcumbe, 34, also rang his victim to threaten that he would 'find her and kill her', Bolton Crown Court heard.

He has now been sentenced to two years and 10 months imprisonment.

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The court was told that on June 29 2020, Edgcumbe and the woman had an argument at her Bolton flat. He then left and started driving around the town centre in an 'erratic' manner.

Edgcumbe, then returned to her home and became aggressive after drinking alcohol and smashed up the flat. Fearing for her own safety, the woman decided to go to a relative's home and Edgcumbe was captured on CCTV, coming and going from the flat throughout the evening.

The 34-year-old rang his victim telling her that he would "find her and kill her" and around 9pm, residents in the same block of flats reported a fire. The fire service attended and found that the fire had started inside the victim's flat.

Shortly after, the court heard that Edgcumbe arrived at a family member's home in an agitated state ranting about the victim. Officers later attended at his home in Leicester Avenue, Horwich, and arrested him on suspicion of arson.

In interview, he answered no comment to all questions but eventually pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

Detective Constable Andrew Jameson, of Bolton CID, said: "Edgcumbe's behaviour left the victim fearing for her life before her home was then set on fire. Thankfully the victim was left physically unharmed.

"His dangerous and callous actions that day could have caused fatalities and I am pleased that justice has