An "obsessed" arsonist caused at least £10,000 worth of damage when he set fire to his ex-girlfriend’s stables in a revenge attack.

Paul Goodwin, from Dover, used petrol to start the blaze on land off The Street in Worth, near Deal, on October 29 last year.

A court heard that although no animals were hurt, two horses had to be pulled to safety as the blaze took hold shortly after 5.30pm.

The stable owner, who had previously been in a relationship with Goodwin, was said to have been left "upset, frustrated and terrified" by his actions.

She also feared that the 33-year-old had started the fire in the belief she was present.

Prosecutor Kieran Brand told Canterbury Crown Court on Thursday, May 23, that Goodwin, of Alkham, had a "continued obsession" with the victim following their break-up.

He sent her abusive messages and then, 11 days before starting the fire, threatened her he would "do something", making a reference to horses.

Kent Fire and Rescue Service, who were alerted by a member of the public, found the hay barn and three stalls inside the stable block alight, and that the fire had been started intentionally with an accelerant.

As well as causing £7,000 worth of damage to the building, a further £3,000 worth of property, including head collars, lead ropes, treatments and more than 200 brushes collected over the years, were destroyed.

Goodwin was arrested the following day but denied arson or threatening the victim's horses, said Mr Brand.

However, police found his car six days later in a car park at the Royal Oak in Folkestone and inside it was a green fuel can.

CCTV footage also revealed Goodwin had filled the same container with petrol from a garage in Wingham just half-an-hour before he set the stables alight.

It was reported at the time that people had "risked their lives" in ensuring the horses were safe and unharmed.

In an impact statement read to the court, the victim wrote how it had taken her seven years to save and borrow money to buy the stables and, without insurance, would take "absolutely ages" to rebuild.

She also revealed that at the time of the fire her car had been parked at the site.

"It's hard to explain how upset I am about what has happened," the woman explained.

"I was proud and happy when I purchased the stables in my parents' field.

"Paul knew the stables weren't insured, which makes me feel it was done intentionally to take away something that was important to me.

"It's going to take absolutely ages to build this back up to where it was and it is extremely frustrating."

Describing her relief that no horses were hurt but also expressing her fear for her own safety, she added: "It's incredibly sick he has done this with live animals there. It's fortunate most were out in the field

"I also believe he set fire to the stables because he thought I was there because my car was there.

"This terrifies me because it shows the lengths he can go to."

The court heard Goodwin has five previous convictions for seven offences, including two for criminal damage and one for sending a malicious communication.

Phil Rowley, defending, said the former railway trackside worker had committed the arson at a time when his mental health had taken a "substantial downturn" and his family had expressed concerns he needed to be sectioned.

Although his GP had recommended a psychiatric referral, no intervention had taken place before he set the stables alight, added the lawyer.

"What this is not is a man in the best of psychiatric health making a cold and calculated decision to engage in conduct of this sort," explained Mr Rowley.

"It's an individual in distress, witnessed by others, and in that state this offence occurs."

The court heard, however, that since being remanded into custody and properly medicated, Goodwin felt "a different man", with significant improvement in his way of thinking and feelings.

Goodwin admitted arson and was jailed for two-and-a-half years. He was also made subject to an indefinite restraining order.

Passing sentence, Recorder Stuart Trimmer KC told him: "This was an attack which could have damaged horses. It was an attack which could have damaged people.

"It's a very dangerous thing to do, albeit you were doing something to a property and not a place where somebody lives.

"But it's very obvious you had in mind to cause as much distress and damage as you could.

"This was something that you did plan and you did premeditate. It was a revenge attack.

"You perceived a slight to you and were going to put it right by attacking property belonging to this victim.

"The use of an accelerant is regarded as something that heightens culpability. As far as harm is concerned, it was your purpose to cause as much psychological harm to your victim as you could."

Recorder Trimmer was unable to award the stable owner compensation because Goodwin was said to have no financial means, having been in custody on remand since his arrest.

However, the judge ordered that the victim surcharge of £228 be redirected to her as a "token" of compensation.