A drunk thug who threatened to burn down his girlfriend's parents' home was jailed for two years on Friday.

Paul Williams, 33, was said to be in a rage when he bombarded his estranged girlfriend with "aggressive" texts and voicemail messages in February.

Demanding to see their one-year-old son, Williams told Susan Whapshott he would set fire to her parents' Dartford home if he was refused.

Maidstone Crown Court heard that Williams reiterated his threat to burn the house down in a number of calls. He later told police following his arrest that he has a "spiteful tongue" when drunk.

Jailing him for two years, Judge Charles Macdonald QC said the incident was aggravated by Williams' previous conviction for committing arson at the home of a former girlfriend seven years' earlier.

"You were in a rage," added the judge. "She believed you because of your past and the whole family was frightened."

Williams, of Beckford Lodge, Westerham Road, Heston, near Bromley, admitted threatening to destroy or damage property.

At the hearing he at first denied the charge, but later changed his plea to guilty.

Lesley Manley, defending, told the court he was remorseful and did not want to put his former girlfriend and her father through the ordeal of giving evidence.