A thug poured petrol over a car containing his ex-girlfriend, her mother and a young baby and tried to set fire to it, a court heard.

Elycia Simmons and her mother Deborah were trapped in the Mercedes as Kyle Allen poured the fuel from a can onto bonnet, the front windscreen, the passenger doors and the boot.

He used a lighter to try to ignite the petrol on the windscreen, but failed.

Mrs Simmons drove off from Snodland with her daughter, but stopped because she feared the car would catch fire. Allen chased after them and made death threats.

Now, the 32-year-old, formerly of Cantium Place, Snodland, is facing a long spell in prison after admitting attempted arson with intent to endanger life and two offences of assault causing actual bodily harm.

He was sentenced to seven years and two months under an extended sentence for public protection for the arson offence, but will first have to serve 11 months of 22 months imposed for the assaults.

He will not be able to apply for release until he has served two thirds of the seven-year sentence. He will be on licence for a further three years.

A judge branded Allen “a dangerous and brutal man when it comes to intimate relationships”.

Maidstone Crown Court heard Allen, who had been convicted of assaulting previous partners, and Miss Simmons were in a relationship that went sour.

On June 1 2016, they argued and the victim ended up on the bedroom floor with Allen stamping on her, cracking one of her ribs.

Judge Charles Macdonald QC said there was a lull in the strife, but then on July 22 last year in a jealous rage he kicked Miss Simmons on the shin, threw an object at her and threatened her with a beer bottle.

Afterwards, she moved into her mother’s home in Aylesford and asked him to leave their shared house.

She went with her mother and her dog to see Allen on July 25. There was an argument and he mother and daughter got back into the car.

It was then that Allen came out with a can and poured the petrol over the car and tried to light it.

Mrs Simmons drove off but stopped because she feared the car would catch fire. She called the police.

Prosecutor David Mitchell said Allen caught up with them and made a motion with his finger across his throat. He shouted: “You’re ------- dead. I am going to have you.”

Ed Fowler, defending, said after previous assault convictions in 2014 Allen took an anger management course and then forged a prosperous and productive life as an electrician.

But his life imploded when he was falsely accused of abducting a woman and committing sex offences in Rochester.

“When his name was revealed in the press, people were not prepared to have him in their houses,” said Mr Fowler. “He lost work and money, and that created a strain in his relationship.

“There was solace with turning to drink and drugs. No evidence was offered following disclosure of computer records, which exonerated him in February.

“He lived for two years being accused of a false crime. He has paid a heavy price for that accusation.”

Judge Macdonald said he agreed with a report that Allen was dangerous and there was a risk of further offending.

“The defendant blames the offences on the stress of a false accusation, but the chronology of his life shows this is incorrect,” he said.

“This is a dangerous and brutal man when it comes to intimate relationships. The attempted arson caused absolute terror to the victims.

“There was an intention to ignite the petrol. It could have been a manslaughter case.”

The judge made a restraining order banning contact with the victims.

Inspector Richard O’Toole said afterwards: “There is absolutely no doubt that Allen’s actions risked the lives of everyone inside the car he targeted and this included a baby which was just a few months old.

“It was sheer luck the lighter he was carrying failed to ignite the many litres of fuel, with which he had doused the vehicle. Prior to this, Allen had already repeatedly harassed and assaulted one of the victims.

“The sentence now passed by the courts is a reflection of the danger he poses to members of the public. He is a violent and also extremely dangerous individual and prison is the best place for him.”