A jealous suitor set fire to the scooter of a love rival after he had been dumped by his girlfriend.

And yesterday Chet Adrian Charles Wilmot was given an 18 month prison sentence after pleading guilty in Supreme Court to four counts of wilful damage.

The court heard how Wilmot, 36, of Farm Lane, Warwick, had begun a relationship with Donna Smith in December, 1990. The love affair eventually fizzled out and in February of this year Ms Smith moved into a studio apartment on East Avenue, Warwick, and started seeing another man.

Crown counsel Peter Eccles told the court how, in the early hours of March 5, Wilmot approached the house and found Ms Smith's new boyfriend's scooter parked near the front door. The couple were inside sleeping.

Wilmot went back to his apartment to pick up some petrol, returned and then set fire to the bike, which exploded, spreading flames into the apartment. Ms Smith and her boyfriend woke up and managed to escape uninjured out of the bathroom window.

"They were awakened by a crackling sound followed by an explosion,'' Mr.

Eccles said. "The curtains caught fire and the fire then rapidly spread into the apartment.'' Wilmot was questioned by Police the next morning and, after first denying the attack, he admitted he set fire to the bike after a drinking binge because he felt angered and betrayed.

"He had only intended to damage the bike, not the house, but, given that the bike was only parked one foot away from the door of the apartment, fire damage was virtually inevitable,'' Mr. Eccles said.

"This act was not calculated carefully, it was a crime of passion and the defendant's passion had been ignited for some time.'' Wilmot also pleaded guilty to damaging the boyfriend's car on two separate occasions just a few days before the arson attack.

Before being sentenced, Wilmot told Puisne Judge Norma Wade Miller: "I never intended to damage the house or harm anyone and I am truly sorry for what has happened.'' Wilmot, who has previous convictions for drug abuse and an assault on Ms Smith, was given an 18-month sentence for the arson attack and a three-month sentence for causing minor damage to the car. The sentences are to run concurrently.

Wilmot will also have to take part in an anger management programme and report to Police on a weekly basis once he is released.