May 24, 2019 5.04 pm This story is over 66 months old

Man spared jail after dousing wife in petrol

She was very scared he would set her on fire

An angry husband doused his wife in petrol following a day of arguing, leaving her terrified he was going to set her alight, Lincoln Crown Court was told on Friday.

Carl Andrews began arguing with his wife Danielle after she rang him in the morning asking him to take her to Essex to clear out her grandmother’s home.

Tom Heath, prosecuting, said that when he arrived home in the afternoon Carl Andrews was abusive to his wife.

“The argument continued throughout the day with him accusing her of ruining his Christmas. He seemed to be very angry. Mrs Andrews phoned her mother-in-law to collect her and take her away from the property.”

Carl Andrews then went upstairs to find his wife packing her bags. He squared up to her and began screaming at her.

Mr Heath said that the defendant then threw his wife’s suitcase down the stairs and tried to throw her out of the door.

He continued to be violent towards her and then piled clothing outside the door and tried to douse it in petrol.

Mr Heath said “He then took a Jerry can and poured petrol all over her. He went back inside saying he was going to get a lighter.

“When he came back out he produced the lighter. Mrs Andrews managed to kick the lighter away from him.

“He then walked towards her carrying a lit cigarette. He was laughing at the time. She was extremely scared that he would light the petrol. Shortly after that the police arrived.”

Mr Heath told the court that Mrs Andrews did not want to see her husband jailed.

“She said she wanted the defendant to get the help he needed,” said the prosecutor.

Carl Andrews, 31, of St Aidens Road, North Hykeham, admitted charges of administering a noxious substance, battery and threatening to destroy property as a result of the incident on December 21, 2018.

He was given a 20 month jail sentence suspended for two years with a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 30 days. He was also ordered to complete a building better relationships course and to pay £170 towards prosecution costs.

John Brewin, for Andrews, urged the judge to follow the recommendation of reports from a psychiatrist and the probation service that his client should be spared an immediate jail sentence.

“My client had a period off work sick after this. He is now back at work but unfortunately there are some debts that are being paid. His financial situation is not the best.”

Recorder Jacob Hallam QC, passing sentence, told Andrews: “I recognise that you have expressed profound remorse for what you did and at the time there were underlying causes due to your background and military service that had been left untreated and to an extent unrecognised.

“This went far beyond what might be called normal domestic strife. What started as an argument quickly turned into a serious offence.

“The psychiatric report, the pre-sentence report from probation, and the background set out in the letter I have read along with material I have seen from your family allow me to come to the conclusion that the sentence is one that can properly be suspended.”