A JEALOUS lover tried to burn down his ex-girlfriend’s home after she started a relationship with his half-brother.

Calvin Lawrence and accomplice Christy Flaherty lit a sock doused in petrol and posted it through the letter box of the house where Demi Jago was living in Brighton Road, Southampton, in September last year.

A lodger living in the property was awoken by a smoke alarm and called the fire brigade.

Southampton Crown Court heard how he noticed the flames and managed to put them out before it went out of control.

Prosecutor Paul Fairly said: “It appears that Demi Jago was once in a relationship with Calvin Lawrence and it appears that at that time she was in a relationship with his half brother. It appears that as a result Mr Lawrence was intensely jealous and that appears to be the motivation behind this offence.

“Fire crews attended and found a petrol can with a spout near the premises, and inquiries at a nearby petrol station show that a third man had purchased a petrol can and some petrol at 12.10am.”

Lawrence, 27, who appeared in court via video link from Lewes prison, is already serving a 13-year sentence following a drug-related shooting in Townhill Park, Southampton.

Judge Derwin Hope sentenced Lawrence to an extra 11 years in prison.

Lawrence smirked as he was handed his sentence.

Flaherty, 20, was sentenced to nine years in a young offenders’ institution for his offences.

They had both been found guilty of arson following a trial.

The court heard how Flaherty previously pleaded guilty for his part in a burglary in Elm Close, Bassett Avenue, in December last year, and was in breach of a community order at the time of the arson attack.

Sentencing Lawrence, Judge Hope said: “Your history shows repeat offending involving violence and being involved in the supplying of drugs, which has caused you to be repeatedly placed into custody.

“On January 21 this year I found as a result of a shooting in Southampton that you were involved with, with another, and quite clearly it was drug related, that you were a dangerous offender.

“You took the opportunity with the co-defendant to commit arson with intent to endanger life. This involved a well-planned series of acts instigated by you, rising out of a grievance you felt towards an ex-girlfriend.

“One person – a lodger – was in the premises at the time and the court heard how it was only by the grace of God that nobody was killed.”

Sentencing Flaherty, Judge Hope added: “You Flaherty were a willing part of that enterprise and on evidence it was you who, through a friend, organised the obtaining of petrol and thereafter went with Mr Lawrence to the house to carry out the act with him.

“It so nearly had fatal consequences.”