An arsonist poured petrol through a woman's letter box then fled on an e-scooter, leaving her home to burn with her and her child inside, a court heard.

Brandon Jones targeted the young family in Gravesend after he had threatened the woman and she'd refused to let him in.

The horrific chain of events took place on March 31, 2021, when he went to an address in the town occupied by a woman he knew.

He had previously sent her threatening texts and the woman refused to allow him into her property. He threatened her again before leaving in a taxi. Jones travelled to another address where he collected his e-scooter and rode it to a service station in Perry Street.

There he filled a can with petrol before returning to the woman’s house and pouring the fuel through her letter box. Jones ignited the petrol and the fire spread from the door into the hallway.

He fled on his e-scooter, as neighbours ran to alert the victim of the imminent danger from the blaze.

Unable to get out of her home, the woman and her child had to be rescued from a first floor window by Kent Fire and Rescue Service.

It later transpired that Jones had indicated his intention to harm the victim in texts to one of her friends. He also admitted causing the blaze when he phoned the victim’s phone and it was answered by another of her associates.

Jones, of Thistledown, Gravesend was arrested later the same day. He was charged with arson intending to endanger the life of another person, and pleaded guilty at Woolwich Crown Court.

The 24-year-old has now been sentenced to eight years in prison with a further four years to be served on licence.

Police Sergeant John-Paul Foley, of the North Division Vulnerability Investigation Team, said: "This criminal has shown a callous disregard for the life of others by setting fire to the main exit from the victim’s property.

"His cowardly actions could have had a fatal outcome, if not for the prompt actions of the attending fire crews.

"Jones is undoubtedly a dangerous individual who is now, quite rightly, starting a lengthy prison sentence."