This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-23628981

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Damion Sheldon of Dudley guilty of setting ex-girlfriend on fire Damion Sheldon of Dudley guilty of setting ex-girlfriend on fire
(about 2 hours later)
A man who doused his ex-girlfriend in petrol and set her alight in front of her child has been found guilty of attempted murder. A man who doused his former girlfriend in petrol and set her alight has been found guilty of attempted murder.
Wolverhampton Crown Court heard Damion Sheldon, 42, of Russells Hall Road, Dudley, planned to kill himself after splitting up with his partner. Damion Jason Sheldon, 42, from Russells Hall Road, Dudley, doused his victim in petrol in Haden Walk, Rowley Regis, on 2 December.
After "repeated threatening phone calls" to his victim, Sheldon turned up at the woman's home late at night and set her alight, the court was told. Sheldon, who was convicted at Wolverhampton Crown Court, had admitted committing arson recklessly.
Sheldon will be sentenced next month. He is due to be sentenced at the same court on 2 September.
The court heard that on 1 December, Sheldon's 42nd birthday, he made threatening phone calls to his ex-girlfriend who lived in Rowley Regis.
The next morning, he bought petrol and went to her home where he poured it through the letter box before attacking her.
'Flames spread'
Det Con Andy Barnsley, of West Midlands Police, said: "She opened the door, Sheldon grabbed her and doused her in petrol before setting her alight.
"The flames spread to the rest of her body. "
Sheldon walked past the burning mother-of-two and lit the pool of petrol already inside the house, the court was told.
The woman's nine-year-old daughter helped remove her mother's clothes and put out the fire.
Three passing men heard screams and climbed a ladder to force their way into a bedroom where a 13-month-old baby was suffering from the effects of smoke inhalation, the court heard.
Firefighters arrived and performed CPR for five minutes on the infant who later recovered.
Speaking after the trial, Mr Barnsley, said: "This was a horrific crime committed out of pure malice at having been jilted by his partner."
Presiding judge, John Warner, warned Sheldon he faced "a long period in custody".