Thomas Stuart’s ex-partner said: “The incident has completely turned my life and my children’s lives upside down. All I wanted was to be left alone in peace.”
Southey Street, Bootle(Image: Colin Lane)
A man who stalked his ex-girlfriend, broke into her house and set it on fire. Thomas Stuart, 27, entered his ex’s house through an insecure door and smashed up her children’s iPads before dousing her couch in accelerant and setting it alight.
Stuart had been with the woman for just five months before she ended the relationship due to his alcohol and drug use in September last year. Prosecutor Zahra Baqri, at Liverpool Crown Court, said: “The defendant was unhappy about that. At the end of January 2025 it seemed that he was persisting in his want to be in a relationship with her.
“She told him in no uncertain terms not to contact her any more, but he continued to do so. he communicated with her by numerous social media platforms, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. He made a number of different accounts and she felt the sole purpose was to message her.”
Investigating officers said Stuart sent the woman “about 100 messages”. These included one that read: “I’m going to slash your mum’s tyres.”
On March 24 this year, the woman was made aware that the fire alarm was going off in her Bootle home, and asked her mum to check on the property, as her two dogs were trapped inside.
The mum “noticed straight away lots of black on the floor and the smell of burning”. The couch had liquid on it, the children’s iPads had been smashed, and other items damaged. She also found a bag of air fresheners near where the fire had been started.
Later that day, she received a text message from Stuart which read: “I’ve only done this because I have been threatened.”
Ms Baqri said: “She spoke to her neighbour and they were able to advise they had seen the defendant going back and forth to the address. They also said they told him they were going to go to the police because of what he had done, and as a consequence the fire then stopped, suggesting he had put the fire out.
“The victim told police that she was struggling to keep her children safe because of the defendant and didn’t want contact with him ever again.”
However, police were called again just three days later on March 27, when it was reported Stuart was once again outside the victim’s house.
The 27-year-old was later arrested, and told police “he had done what he had done because he was angry, he decided to go to the victim’s house with the intention of causing damage”. He claimed this was because he had been threatened by the victim’s family, though Ms Baqri said there was no evidence of this.
She said: “He told police he entered by an insecure door, went into the living room, and once he was in there he started pushing things off cabinets. He damaged the children’s iPads. He went into the bedrooms and did the same there. He picked up the victim’s clothes and decided to set fire to them.
“He said almost immediately he realised what he was doing was wrong and very shortly thereafter smothered the flames and extinguished the fire.”
Stuart, of Southey Street, Bootle, pleaded guilty to stalking, burglary and arson. He appeared for sentence at Liverpool Crown Court on Friday, August 9, via video link, having been remanded in custody following the attack.
Southey Street, Bootle(Image: Colin Lane)
In a victim statement read out to the court, his ex-girlfriend said: “The incident has completely turned my life and my children’s lives upside down. I never wanted any of this to happen. All I wanted was to be left alone in peace. I never would have thought he would have taken the extreme actions he took that day, which caused so much hurt and suffering.”
Charles Lander, defending, said: “(Stuart) acted on impulse with little or no planning. Within seconds he realises the stupidity of his actions, he puts the fire out, he stays at the property and speaks to the neighbours. He also apologises particularly to the victim and her children because they are the victims of his actions.”
He said Stuart had mental health issues and ADHD, adding: “For at least 10 years he led a law-abiding lifestyle and something triggered him to act as he did. For four months he has sat in prison reflecting on his actions.
“He can’t understand why he acted as he did. Stupidity maybe, he was drunk, but ultimately that’s no excuse.”
He added: “Given he has served four months in custody, the court could release him and impose a suspended sentence. Given the positive words said by many people on this defendant’s behalf, given his own remorse, no relevant or recent convictions, steps taken to minimise the effects of the fire, lack of maturity, and mental health, there are a number of factors that allow Your Honour to reduce the total sentence.”
Judge Katherine Pierpoint said the arson attack had left the victim “frightened, anxious, (suffering) panic attacks”, and described the act of smashing up the children’s iPads as particularly “nasty”. She said: “People should feel safe in their own home, and the upset caused when somebody has gone so far as breaking into that property and setting fire to it, that will have untold effects on her.”
However, she said: “There is clearly a different side to you. I have read with care letters written by family members by friends who have known you for a long period of time, by your own and also members of your football club. I’m quite sure that some of them are very shocked when they hear what you did. But it does show there’s another side to you.
“You have a good work record and very clearly have family and friends to support you, and you do have an ability to put this offending behind you and to carry on living a law-abiding life.”
She sentenced Stuart to two years in prison, suspended for 18 months. He must complete 30 rehabilitation days and 150 hours of unpaid work. He was also given a restraining order banning him from contacting the victim for seven years.