The arsonist who torched a home where four children were asleep

An arsonist set fire to a house where two women and four children were asleep. Andrew Potter emptied two jerry cans full of petrol onto a quilt pushed up against a back door.

He struck at 6am after having an argument with one of the women the day before at the property in Latchford, Warrington. Luckily the victim and her sister noticed the door had been torched and ran upstairs.

Squirting a shower hose out of the bathroom window, they were able to douse the fire. Once the fire was out and her family safe, the victim called the police.

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CCTV enquiries identified Potter, and he was swiftly arrested and subsequently charged with arson with intent to endanger life. Potter appeared at Chester Crown Court where he was sentenced to eight years in prison. The 39-year-old of Thelwall New Road, Warrington, had earlier pleaded guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered.

In a statement Cheshire Constabulary said: "At around 6am Wednesday 13 September, Potter attended a woman’s home address in Latchford, following a verbal disagreement the day before. The woman, her sister, and four young children were in the property at the time. Potter then set fire to the rear kitchen door using a quilt and two jerry cans full of petrol.

"Aiming a shower hose out the bathroom window, they were able to extinguish the fire. Once the fire was out and her family safe, the victim called the police."

Following the sentencing, Detective Constable Neil Mooney, of Warrington Local Policing Unit, said: “The repercussions of what may have happened in this case are