A drunken man set fire to his ex-girlfriend's car in a jealous rage.

Gerald Burton's former partner feared for her life after he accused her of having an affair with another man.

Terrified Anna Gambone called police for help as he set her Vauxhall Cavalier ablaze.

Burton, 48, was jailed for three years at Lewes Crown Court after he admitted a charge of arson.

Judge Charles Kemp told Burton he was a danger to other people when he had been drinking.

The judge said: "You were in a rage that day. Rightly or wrongly you had formed the view Miss Gambone had been unfaithful to you and you sought to eke out your revenge by a wickedly violent and aggressive act.

"In my view this was a very grave offence indeed.

"You boasted of your macho hell-raising reputation in the past and your activities when you are drunk and now you are going to have to answer for them.

"I am satisfied when in drink you do indeed present a danger to those around you."

Michael Smith, prosecuting, told the court there had been a history of jealous outbursts throughout the couple's three-year relationship.

Miss Gambone complained Burton did not like her talking to other people without his knowledge or consent and constantly believed she was having affairs.

When the couple parted in June last year he moved to Henfield Road in Small Dole, where Miss Gambone, who lived in Wales, visited him.

He continued to accuse her of affairs and she came to believe he had access to a gun.

On July 30 last year, Miss Gambone arrived at his home and found Burton had been drinking and was acting strangely.

When she took a phone call from a friend, Burton immediately accused her of having a relationship with the other man, who she had brought her car from.

She told police she was frightened for her own safety as he threatened to kill her. At one point he locked her inside his home but agreed to open the door when she said her dogs needed walking.

Mr Smith said: "She was frightened. She was scared of his temper and feared for her own safety. She believed he had a gun."

Miss Gambone walked down a nearby lane where she called police. She then realised her car was alight. She said Burton told her: "You cannot go anywhere now I have burnt your car."

The court heard Burton, who has since moved to Stoney Lane, Shoreham, had used flames from a bonfire to set the car alight.

Brendan Keany, defending, said Burton had a history of alcohol problems following a series of tragedies in his life. A former partner died of cancer and two of his children had died in a fire.

He said: "He had far too much to drink that day and frankly he has no recollection of what happened."