By Boxing day arson attack saw man walk away from ex-partners burning home
A man who set fire to the family home of his ex-lover on Boxing Day has been charged with two charges of assault, stalking, and arson to endanger lives.
The family had to flee from the flames in the fire in the early hours of Boxing Day morning, Grimsby Crown Court heard.
In just three hours the jury convicted Savastel Balaci, 35, formerly of Elsenham Road, of arson to endanger the lives of his former partner and her mother and stepfather.
He was also convicted of stalking his former partner between December 22 and 26 and two further charges of assault.
His ex-lover and her mother and stepfather had to run from the burning home after being awoken by the fire which had been deliberately started.
Balaci had earlier sent selfies of himself inside the extension of the home in Elsenham Road to threaten the family in the days after she ended their relationship.
The court also heard how Balaci sent “stark and frightening messages to his ex-partner” as he harassed her with messages and voice mails threatening to kill the family.
Balaci set light to his jacket and threw it into the wooden extension at the rear of the home, causing the petrifying blaze before he “simply walked away from that burning house.”
The jury in the four-day trial also heard how Balaci repeatedly spat in his partner’s face and flicked cigarette ash at her.
She ended the relationship on December 23 which led to thirty threatening messages being sent along with a photograph of himself in the family extension with threats to their lives.
On Christmas Day the mother and stepfather returned home after an evening with friends and went to bed around 10.30pm. They were awoken by the crackling sound of wood burning at around 3.30am as the mother alerted her husband and daughter and they fled through the front door.
Humberside Fire and Rescue Service attended and spent an hour and a half making the area safe. The extension was destroyed in the fire, which also caused damage to the kitchen.
Police later arrested Balaci from the upstairs bedroom of his address in Bridge Gardens.
Balaci admitted arson being reckless to their lives being endangered but denied endangering their lives with intent.
The court also heard of Balaci’s previous convictions for assault in Romania and also offences of dishonesty. He is due to be sentenced in September after reports were ordered.
