Man is jailed – and forgiven – for fire at girlfriend’s home
Victim visits arsonist in prison and ‘loves him to bits’
messengernews@ thekmgroup.co.uk A man set fire to his on-off girlfriend’s home when he could not make contact with her.
Antony Matthews, 32, of Hayle Road, Maidstone, has been jailed for three and a half years.
Anita Sidhu and her 11-yearold daughter were watching from the safety of a friend’s house, but a judge said he either thought they were inside or did not care whether they were or not.
Jailing him Judge Martin Joy said: “You are very fortunate you did not cause death or serious injury.”
Maidstone Crown Court heard that despite Matthews’ actions Miss Sidhu “loves him to pieces” and had forgiven him.
Prosecutor Paul Valder said the couple had been in a relationship for about two years but he became violent and jeal- ous. While out with friends on May 10 this year, Miss Sidhu received texts from Matthews. She returned home in the early hours of the next day and saw him standing outside her twostorey maisonette in Scholars Rise, Strood.
She did not want to see him and went to the friend’s home where her daughter was. They went upstairs and saw that Matthews – drunk and high on cocaine – was shouting for her and kicking the door of the maisonette.
He left and then returned, knelt down and smashed a pane of glass. He threw something through the hole and flames erupted.
A forensic scientist said if anybody had been inside their escape would have been blocked by flames and smoke.
Matthews admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Judge Joy said Miss Sidhu had stated at the time: “I honestly believe he thought we were in the property. I have seen how black the bedroom is from the smoke and dread to think what would have happened if my daughter had been in her bed.”
Matthews’ lawyer Trevor Wright said Miss Sidhu had written to him in prison and visited him weekly.
“He made it clear he bitterly regrets his actions and expresses his remorse. I think it is fair to say she has forgiven him,” he added.