A court heard how a family from Bushey were left traumatised and fearful after an arson attack on their home.
On December 14, the two men behind the attack in April of last year were jailed after a judge told them they had risked causing death or injury to the occupants.
Sentencing 26-year-old Daniel Roberts to three years behind bars and his co-defendant, Paul Roberts, 27, to two years and four months, Deputy Circuit Judge Graham Arran said: “The impact has been to create a great deal of anxiety for the family.”
The two men, who St Albans Crown Court were told are not related, carried out the attack because of a “history” between Daniel Roberts and Gavin Dolby, who lived at the targeted property in Vega Road, Bushey.
Prosecutor Ami Jones told the court how the arson attack was carried out at around 12.50am on the morning of April 3 last year.
Miss Jones said Mr Dolby had been in a relationship with a young woman, but they had split up and she had begun a relationship with Daniel Roberts, from Norwich Avenue, Southend-on-Sea in Essex.
As a result, the court was told, there was some ill feeling on Daniel Roberts’ part and he was behind a number of “malicious” communications which were sent to Mr Dolby.
Roberts sent Mr Dolby a photo of him with Mr Dolby’s children.
The court then heard how, on the night of April 2 last year, the two defendants drove from Essex into Hertfordshire.
Behind the wheel was Paul Roberts, of The Broadway in the Leigh-on-Sea area of Southend.
From there the court was told they travelled to the home of Mr Dolby in Bushey where, at around ten to one that morning, petrol was used to start a fire outside the front of the house.
Asleep in the property was Mr Dolby’s father Darren, his mother and younger sister.
The court was told the fire caused damage to the window and front door as well as decking in the garden.
In court, Daniel Roberts pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Paul Roberts admitted conspiring to commit arson on a car.
Mr James Harrison for Daniel Roberts said his client had been diagnosed with a personality disorder and at the time of the offence had not been taking his medication.
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