A JILTED former fireman set fire to the factory where his ex-lover worked after she ended their affair.

Daniel Edwards, from St Austell, Cornwall, caused an estimated £250,000 of damage when he set ablaze the West Pharmaceutical plant.

More than 30 other staff were working in the building in the early hours of September 1 last year as well as Edwards' former lover and boss, Tina Moorshead.

Edwards was jailed for four years yesterday after previously pleading guilty to arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Judge Paul Darlow told Edwards: "You, as an ex-firefighter, would know precisely the risk you put in train when you set fire to that storeroom.

"You, as an ex-firefighter, would know the dangers to which you exposed the people in the factory and the people summonsed to deal with the fire – those people who take their own lives in their hands to extinguish the flames."

The court was told that Edwards had previously been a retained fireman

when living in Wiltshire.

It was also told that the arson attack followed a series of telephone calls and desperate text messages being sent from Edwards to his former lover.

Judge Darlow told him: "As an ex-employee, you knew where it was best to start the fire.

"This was clearly pre-meditated and preceded by threats to an ex-girlfriend you wished to harm."

Edwards, 26, wearing a short-sleeve shirt, looked towards his partner before being led away by security officers.

The court was told that the former fireman had committed previous offences, which include violence towards former girlfriends.

Prosecution barrister Ramsay Quaife told the court that Edwards was living with his partner in St Austell when he embarked on an affair in 2007 with his work supervisor, Ms Moorshead.

Mr Quaife said that after Edwards' partner had their first child, Miss Moorshead sent a text message ending the liaison between herself and Edwards.

The court was told that on the night of the arson attack, Edwards had been out drinking before going to West Pharmaceutical just after midnight, knowing that Ms Moorshead was at work.

The court was told that Miss Moorshead told police Edwards had called her and "rambled on and on about giving things another go".

Mr Quaife said the fire was started in the raw materials store below the staff room.

Firefighters managed to bring the blaze under control, but the company estimated the cost of the fire at £250,000.

In mitigation, defence lawyer Rupert Taylor said: "A romantic liaison with a lady who no longer wanted his affections led to this matter.

" He had been rejected by her and he responded in a repulsive fashion."