AN arsonist who set fire to his pregnant girlfriend’s flat twice in one night has been jailed.

Jonathan Humphreys, from Warrington, set newspapers alight and posted them through his partner’s letterbox in the early hours.

He was handed three years behind bars at Chester Crown Court on Wednesday, June 3, after admitting arson.

The court heard that the 30-year-old attended the first-floor apartment on Waterbank Row in Northwich shortly before 6am on April 4 this year with the intention of ending the relationship.

Humphreys began banging on the front door and shouting abuse at his girlfriend, who was 19 weeks pregnant with his child at the time.

She refused to let him inside, and he initially left the scene.

But the drug addict, who was under the influence at the time of the incident, returned and set the newspapers alight in her letterbox – filling the hallway with thick black smoke.

The expectant mum was able to extinguish the blaze using a broom and a glass of water after being alerted by fire alarms.

Humphreys – who has previous convictions for domestic violence, threatening behaviour and battery – returned again, claiming that he would call the police and that he was ‘going to get the baby taken off her’.

He then set fire to the door again before throwing items at the window and cycling away.

Police were called to the scene and arrested him nearby shortly afterwards.

Only minor damage was called to the door, while Humphreys’ partner was not injured by the fire.

Sentencing, judge Patrick Thompson said: "I am not sentencing you on the basis that you intended to burn down the flat, but you were extremely reckless – no doubt because you were under the influence of drink and drugs.

“She was 19 weeks pregnant with your child – your actions endangered them and anybody in neighbouring flats.

“It was an incredibly dangerous and reckless thing to do."