Dozens of wedding guests had to be evacuated when a man set fire to his hotel room after being kicked out of Hot Water Comedy Club.
Daniel Baker was turfed out of the popular venue after causing drunken disturbances to a show before attacking his partner when a row erupted over sex. When she locked herself in the bathroom crying, the business owner started a blaze which saw the building cleared.
Liverpool Crown Court heard this afternoon, Wednesday, that the 39-year-old and his then girlfriend Jayne Armstead were visiting the city from their home in Lincolnshire in order to celebrate his birthday on August 6 last year. Katy Appleton, prosecuting, described how the couple attended a gig at the Hot Water Comedy Club but Baker was ejected as he was "disrupting the show".
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They went to another bar and continued drinking before returning to the Aigburth Hotel, where an argument erupted "about a lack of engagement in sexual activity". The 39-year-old defendant, of Tennyson Avenue in Grantham, "became abusive" during this altercation and punched Ms Armstead in the face.
She locked herself in the bathroom as a result, but Baker began shouting: "I'm going to set the place on fire if you don't get out now. You are going to die."
He then used a cigarette lighter to ignite a towel which he had placed by the bathroom door and left his "crying and distressed" partner in the room. The fire triggered an alarm, and the hotel's manager escorted Ms Armstead out of the premises.
Baker was arrested in the car park in possession of her mobile phone and bank card, but claimed under interview with police that she had assaulted him during the incident. He stated that he then woke up to discover the fire and their room filled with smoke, after which he grabbed his belongings and fled before falling asleep in his van outside.
The entire hotel, including 80 guests of a wedding it was hosting, had to be evacuated in the early hours due to the blaze - which caused damage to the bathroom door, the doorframe and carpet. Baker has a total of seven previous convictions for eight offences.
Charles Lander, defending, told the court that the "hard-working and reliable" dad has his own construction company with two employees. He added: "A stupid argument got out of hand and he acted disproportionately.
"He is ashamed of what he's done. There is clearly a lot of good in this defendant. He is terrified of being away from his children. I ask you honour to give him an opportunity."
Baker admitted arson being reckless as to whether life endangered during an earlier hearing. He was handed 13-month imprisonment suspended for 18 months, a rehabilitation activity requirement of up to 20 days and an alcohol abstinence requirement.
Sentencing, Judge Robert Trevor-Jones said: "There may well have been a degree of mutual violence between the two of you, but whatever the case you then sought to intimidate her further by setting a fire. This was a hotel and as could be expected there were many rooms occupied and, being in the middle of the night, all of those were evacuated - at least temporarily.
"In the event, there was extremely limited damage. You clearly have a drink issue which needs sorting.
"There are various positive things that can be said on your behalf. I am of the view that it is not necessary for you to serve that sentence now."
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