(Image: Durham Constabulary)
A County Durham thug threatened to torch a woman's home during a street scuffle.
Witnesses saw Daniel Baker arguing, and pushing and shoving a woman outside her home in Horden, at about 5pm on Friday, August 7.
Prosecutor Kate Barnes told Durham Crown Court that an onlooker believed both were highly intoxicated.
When the neighbour returned 20 minutes later, Baker was scuffling with another man, who ran away.
Daniel Baker received a four-month prison sentence for threatening to burn down woman's home
He then resumed the row with the woman and was clearly heard saying: “I’m going to come back and burn your house down.”
Another neighbour intervened shortly before police arrived and arrested Baker.
Miss Barnes said the woman declined to help police or provide a victim statement.
Baker, 33, of Darcy Square, Murton, admitted threatening to damage or destroy property.
He was said to have 12 convictions for 19 offences, including wounding with intent in 2014, for which he was jailed for 56 months.
Miss Barnes said the August offence breached an 18-month community order imposed in May last year for obstructing a police constable, criminal damage and a public order offence.
Jonathan Gittins, for Baker, said his contact with the courts had been “somewhat limited” since the serious 2014 offence.
Mr Gittins said Baker apologised for the latest offence but maintained the threat was a throwaway remark made as he left the woman’s home.
He said the argument started after Baker was accused of stealing items from the woman’s home, which he denied.
Judge Nathan Adams said the incident began with both sides pushing, shoving, shouting and swearing, but Baker was then clearly heard threatening to come back and set fire to the house.
“Threats of that nature are always taken seriously.”
He imposed a four-month prison sentence, but as Baker was in custody since the incident, he was expected to be 'time-served' and released almost immediately.
Baker is also facing a separate public order charge at the magistrates’ court later this month over the scuffle with the other man.