Man, 24, jailed for arson attack on Heywood house

A 24-year-old man has been jailed indefinitely for an arson attack on house in Greater Manchester where a family was sleeping.

Carl Reeves, of Gaskill Street, Heywood, had denied arson but changed his plea at Bolton Crown Court.

The judge ruled that Reeves must serve at least eight years before he will be assessed for parole.

A man, woman and two children suffered smoke inhalation during the fire in Olive Street, Heywood, on 22 October.

Reeves poured petrol through the letter box before setting fire to it.

A man and woman and their two young sons, aged only four years old and 19 weeks, were asleep in the house.

The family were awoken by the sound of their fire alarm and found the house filled with thick smoke.

The man had to smash a bedroom window with a television, where a neighbour helped him to lower down himself, his partner and baby.

He forced his way back into the rear of the house with two neighbours to try and rescue the four-year-old boy, who was still trapped upstairs, but they were forced back by the flames.

Firefighters were able to rescue the boy.

Paramedics had to resuscitate the 19-week-old baby in the ambulance.

Det Con Russell Clarke, from Rochdale CID, said: "This premeditated act by Reeves over an ongoing feud, literally almost cost this family their lives.

"I cannot imagine the sheer terror that must have gone through the minds of these parents, who were unable to reach their four-year-old son as their house burned around them, and then had to watch their young baby be resuscitated."