A Llanbradach man jailed for a terrifying drug-fuelled domestic arson attack walked free today after his prison sentence was slashed by appeal judges.
Michael John Loader, 30, of Dan-y-Darren, assaulted the mother of his baby and set fire to her dressing gown after flying into a rage at their home in November last year.
Loader admitted arson and common assault and was jailed for two-and-a-half years at Newport Crown Court in April.
But he is a free man again after three judges at London’s Court of Appeal slashed his “manifestly excessive” sentence to nine months.
The court heard Loader, who had convictions for more than 50 previous offences, was a valium addict and had taken drugs on the night of the incident.
He went to the room where his partner, identified in court as “K”, was with their baby and began throwing items around and kicking things.
Loader grabbed hold of his partner and pinched her on the face, before chillingly declaring: “I’m going to burn the house down”.
He set fire to a dressing gown and, after letting it burn, put out the flames and went downstairs, leaving his partner in the room.
He was arrested two days later and told police he could not remember anything before his arrival at the police station because of the amount of drugs he had taken.
His lawyers argued that the two-and-a-half year sentence was too tough and had the term quashed by appeal judges.
Lord Justice Hooper said: “In his favour is the fact that he pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and that he put the fire out very quickly.”
Loader was released immediately because he would have to serve only half of his term in prison and had already served 118 days in custody before he was jailed.
I am disgusted with this he should have had time for what he did just because he was taking drugs don't make it right… I don't think it is right I hope the girl in question is ok n getting on with her life….
Time and again the justice system lets down the law abiding public. This is another case, To top it all off this drug taking arsonist has moved in across the road from his former partner and her 2 children.
He certainly hasn`t done the time to fit the crime, now the people on The Rise Llanbradach will have to watch their backs just incase their houses start to get broken into again. I hope the Police are keeping tracks on this idiot and the hangers on around him. God help us all with the backward looking do gooders in this country .
Time and again the justice system lets down the law abiding people of this country and this is clearly another case……….
There are always two sides to a story,people who don't know the true facts about this shouldent judge or comment!