A MAN has been found guilty of burning his sister's cottage in Cookhill, Redditch, to the ground in a family row.

Five fire engines and a water carrier were called to the blaze in Evesham Road in the early hours of January 14 this year.

Two firefighters wearing breathing apparatus entered the burning cottage to see if anyone was inside and one was slightly hurt when a dormer window collapsed, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Investigators with a specially-trained fire service dog detected traces of petrol in the lounge.

James Dix, aged 39, was cleared by a jury of making threats to kill and arson with intent to endanger life but was found guilty of arson being reckless whether life would be endangered.

Charles Hardy, prosecuting, told the jury Dix had been trying to see his sister's partner, Anthony Maddix, after the police decided not to proceed with investigations into allegations against him.

He wanted Mr Maddix to take a private lie detector test but he declined because he felt there was no case for him to answer.

Mr Maddix told the court he took his partner of 20 years, Yvette Dix, the defendant's sister, and their 19-year-old son Riess, to his brother’s home for the night.

He said Dix threatened on the telephone to kill him and they thought it would be safer to leave the cottage they had been renting. More telephone calls followed involving Dix and friends and family members.

Dix told the court he did not threaten Mr Maddix and just wanted to ask him some questions.

"My family was split. I didn't want any trouble, I just needed answers," he said.

He went from his home in Gibbins Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham, to collect some friends, who have not been charged, and seven or eight people went in two cars to his sister's house, where he knew no-one was at home from the earlier phone calls.

He said their behaviour was "getting out of control" and when they got there, his friends threw a petrol can and a lighted rag into the house.

He said he couldn't believe what was happening and when he left the scene, the house was not alight.

He was remanded in custody for a pre-sentence report and is set to be sentenced later this month.