A FAMILY who survived a "terrifying" arson attack at a Scunthorpe block of flats have criticised the sentence given to the arsonist.

Simon Housam, 31, of Redbourne Street, Scunthorpe, was jailed for three years and nine months after admitting a charge of arson, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

But those who lived through the early morning blaze at the Warley Road flats said the sentence is not long enough, as he "could have killed" them.

Speaking outside Grimsby Crown Court, Natalie Cooling, 24, fought back tears as she recalled the incident.

She was sleeping at the time, along with her partner Darren Doherty and their children Brooke, 2, and McKenzie, 3.

She said: "I think the sentence he has been given is appalling and disgusting.

"You can't put a price on a child's life, but he could have killed us all.

"It was terrifying, we were all asleep and it took them ages to wake us up. Anything could have happened to us."

And Darren said: "About 13 people live in the block of flats, and he didn't care about any of them.

"He should have been given a much bigger sentence, because he could have killed us all."

In the early hours of March 28, Housam started a fire at the flats – where he lived at the time – knowing the surrounding flats were occupied with several families.

Firefighters had to act quickly to evacuate sleeping residents.

The court heard Housam was found walking along country roads in Winterton, making threats to end his life on the Humber Bridge.

Police persuaded him to stay at the home of his previous partner, but he later left the property. He sent text messages to his ex-girlfriend saying he had taken an overdose.

Prosecuting, Jeremy Evans, said: "His ex-partner contacted the police who within minutes were at his home address, a block of flats on Warley Road. Police heard a smoke alarm and could smell smoke coming from the letter box of Housam's front door.

"The fire brigade was called and they carried out a rushed evacuation."

The origin of the blaze was pinpointed in the living room of Housam's flat, and firefighters rescued him, before he was taken to hospital.

Housam had set fire to his settee using a lighter.

The estimated cost of the damage to the flats, which belong to North Lincolnshire Homes, was £7,847.41.

Miss Cooley said: "I was frightened. My little girl had to be dragged out of bed. She has a shadow on her lung which means it can be difficult for her to breathe sometimes, and she was coughing."

Mitigating, Gordon Stables, said Housam was "in a very bad place" at that time. He said: "He had lost a baby and had the news of the death of his ex-partner and that had affected him badly."

He said Housam was "very sorry" for what he had done.

Psychiatric reports revealed he doesn't present a high-risk of re-offending, and is not obsessed by fire.

Judge David Tremberg told Housam: "You gave no thoughts to the risk you posed other people. You put at risk the lives, health and safety of not only yourself but residents, children, the police and the fire brigade.

"If you come back before court again, you may never get out."

Housam will serve half of his sentence on licence in the community.