Jilted Vincent Bower poured lighter fluid over ex and told her he wanted her to burn, court hears

A man has been jailed after he poured lighter fuel over his former partner during a vicious assault and told her he wanted her to burn.

Vincent Bowen and Helen Byram had ended their relationship in January but she allowed him to continue living at her address in Walnut Lane, Dewsbury as a lodger, Jonathan Sharp prosecuting told Leeds Crown Court.

She returned home on August 2 and he was not there but he came back later “very badly in drink.”

Bowen subsequently accepted he had drunk four glasses of Jack Daniels and seven pints of cider and in that state an argument developed “over what was a trifling matter” which escalated into a “violent and sustained assault”.

Mr Sharp said Bowen punched her at least twice to each side of her face. She was shouting at him to stop but that only seemed to make matters worse. He threatened to kill her and told her “this is what you have driven me to.”

Mr Sharp said in that “alcohol induced rage” he took out some lighter fuel and poured it over her. He also held a lighter and repeated threats that he wanted her to burn.

She was terrified but managed to escape from him and fled the house into the street screaming for help. One neighbour went to her assistance while another challenged Bowen who was following.

Mr Sharp said Miss Byram was so covered in blood that officers mistook her blond hair as dyed red when they arrived. She was taken to hospital where she was treated for cuts to her lip, and other facial and head injuries. One cut near her right eye needed stitches.

Charlotte Eastwood representing him said he had found it very difficult to cope with the end of the relationship and on occasions seeing his former partner with someone else.

He was drinking too much and had already sought counselling but when he returned that night “he says something just snapped.”

Jailing him for 28 months, Recorder Andrew Stubbs QC said: “Domestic violence of this nature is so serious only a custodial sentence can be justified. This was a sustained and repeated assault on your victim and in the course of that not only did you threaten to kill her but you poured lighter fuel on her and had a lighter in your hand.”