Man jailed after attempting to burn his former partner’s house down after she got back with other ex
A Gateshead man has been jailed after a revenge arson attack at his former partner’s home following the end of their week‑long relationship.
Daniel Lumsden, 42, from Birtley, reacted angrily after learning the woman had spent an evening with her ex. Newcastle Crown Court heard he turned up at her home on July 2, shouting, smashing a bottle and tipping rubbish from her wheelie bin.
Later that night he fought with the woman’s companion before leaving the scene. But after 2am, Lumsden returned, piled rubbish against her back door and set it alight using petrol. A neighbour heard the fire alarm, smelled burning and managed to put the blaze out. The woman was not inside at the time.
When officers found Lumsden shortly afterwards, he had a lighter in his pocket, a jerry can at his home and a screw cap from it on him. He admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
He has now been jailed for 30 months and handed a five‑year restraining order. The judge said setting a fire at a home’s exit point at night was “inherently dangerous”.
