Man jailed after dousing partner in flammable liquid and setting her alight

A man who chucked lighter fluid over his girlfriend’s clothes before setting her on fire has been jailed for life.

Shaun Thomas, 48, launched the attack during an argument at their home in Bedford on February 22 last year.

Luton Crown Court heard he’d earlier snapped a key off in the back door lock in a bid to prevent her escaping.

He was found guilty of arson with intent to endanger life, attempted GBH with intent, ABH and having explosives with intent and given a minimum term of seven years.

Jurors heard that around midnight Thomas poured flammable liquid over his partner during a row.

Her clothing, along with the sofa she was sitting on, went up in flames, but she luckily managed to make it outside where a neighbour helped put them out before calling 999.

The woman, who police have not named, sustained burn injuries to a number of parts of her body.

Police later found a discarded butane canister with a firework taped to it.

Detective Constable Pawan Nahar said: ‘It is only by sheer luck that the victim’s burns were not far worse, and a tragedy was narrowly avoided.

‘Wholly dependent on Thomas for her care, she is still struggling with the realisation of how bad this was, and how much worse it could have been.

‘Domestic abuse in any form is unacceptable, and we are committed to bringing perpetrators to justice.

‘We are dedicated to providing support for victims of violence and would encourage them to speak out, so that we can investigate and put offenders like Thomas behind bars.’