A man who took out his rage against his partner by starting a fire at their home has been jailed for more than two years.

Paul Barnes, 36, tipped a bin on the bed at the flat he shared with Lisa Roberts in Marine
Terrace, Folkestone, and then threw a lit cigarette on the pile.

He then sent a twisted Facebook message to Ms Roberts, 43, taunting her about the fire.

Barnes, who was arrested later in Hastings, admitted reckless arson and common assault.

Prosecutor Ed Burge told Canterbury Crown Court: “Their relationship was failing in April this year and there were frequent arguments.

“An argument began over the weekend, a fairly routine argument which involved both of them screaming at each other.

“During the course of that row, the defendant put his face next to his partner’s face and hit her head with his.”

Barnes would later claim it had not been a deliberate headbutt but a reckless act that hadn’t caused injury to his ex-lover.

A few days later, the two began arguing again over family issues and Ms Roberts threw her evening meal across the room saying she had had enough.

Barnes later left and Ms Roberts phoned her daughter and packed some of her belongings.

Mr Burge said Barnes returned to the studio flat and began the fire – a fire brigade expert believes the fire was started either by a cigarette or flame.

Neighbours smelt smoke and Graham McCallion, 60, the landlord of the flats, alerted firefighters after feeling heat coming through a letterbox, said the prosecutor.

Simon Taylor, defending, said Barnes was emotionally weak and felt unable to deal with the stresses of adult life and adult relationships.

Judge Heather Norton, jailing Barnes for 27 months, told him: “The fire is a worrying escalation in your conduct – whether it was directed at your ex-partner or something born out of anger and frustration.

“Fortunately the fire was contained and there was limited damage to the flat, but, even so, several people had to be evacuated for two hours, which must have been both frightening and an inconvenience.

“When fires are lit there is no means to know if they will get out of control and can endanger lives.”