A MAN who poured petrol over another man in Christmas Day row in a Redditch house has been locked up for 18 months.

Russell Danks, aged 20, did not have a lighter or matches at the time of the offence but his victim, Jago Simmons, still feared he might be burnt alive, Worcester Crown Court heard.

The confrontation took place at 3am at a house in Bushley Close, Redditch, after Danks forced his way in through patio doors. Danks was also armed with a bread knife as well as the bottle of petrol.

The pair had met earlier in Redditch town centre, said prosecutor Ian Ball, and had exchanged blows. Danks, of the Coach House, Stoke Prior craft centre, Bromsgrove, pleaded guilty to common assault, possession of cannabis, criminal damage and having a bladed article in a public place.

Diljit Bahada, for Danks, pointed out that he had been in custody since Christmas. He had been drinking but things came to a head and his emotions got the better of him.

Judge Michael Cullum said the petrol was intended to scare Mr Simmons. It did so but fortunately Danks did not have a lighter. Damage had been caused to his jacket and a sofa. The offence was out of character but drink had made him act out a grievance.

His sentence in a young offenders institution will be reduced by the two-and-a-half months he has spent in custody on remand.