Jail for firework arsonist who struck after Facebook rejection

Burnley Crown Court heard how the victim, a mother of two, was at home with her young children when she heard a loud bang and saw the kitchen filled with smoke.

Nadeem Arif, said to have a low IQ, later posted on the social networking site: “Had a sick laugh. Tried burning my slag’s house in Burnley.”

The incident left the victim shocked, fearing for her safety, and her daughter had been unsettled by it.

The defendant, who had no previous convictions, had earlier admitted attempted arson, last October.

Arif (19), of Barkerhouse Road, Nelson, was sent to a Young Offenders’ Institution by Recorder Neil Flewitt, who also imposed a two-year restraining order to keep the defendant away from the victim.

Mr Joe Boyd (prosecuting) said the 23-year-old victim met the defendant through the internet.

They had a social relationship, he wished it to go further, she didn’t and made it clear to him.

The defendant became angry. At 8 p.m., she had just put the children, aged four and six, to bed when she heard fizzing, screeching and then a loud bang.

She checked her children, saw the kitchen full of smoke and found a spent firework. Police were called.

The victim rang the defendant, who said he had put it through the letter box. He said he was sorry and had not known the children were in the house.

Mr Boyd said, the next afternoon, Arif posted the comments on Facebook.

Mr Ahmed Nadim, for Arif, said he had a low IQ, which put him in the lowest one per cent of the population.

He was immature and that expressed itself in all spheres of his life – socially, sexually and in experiences of life generally.

The barrister added: “The proceedings have been a salutory lesson and have caused him to grow up very quickly.”