A THUG who torched a former friend’s house as a dispute over boxing gloves ended in a murder bid has been jailed for eight years.

Stephen Robertson, 50, started the blaze at the Renfrew home that Brian Hendry shared with his wife Nicola and deaf son Ethan on May 23 last year.

The trio managed to escape the inferno, which led to a £140,000 repair bill.

Heavily-tattooed Robertson pled guilty in February to a charge of attempted murder by wilful fireraising and was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow today.

As well as imposing an eight-year prison term, judge Lady Stacey told him he will be monitored by the authorities once he is freed.

She added: "This is an extremely serious matter. What you did could have caused the death of three people. It is very fortunate that it did not.

"You will be under supervision for a period after your release.

"I am not satisfied you will not present a danger to the public even after you come out of prison."

The earlier court hearing was told how Robertson's friendship with the Hendry family deteriorated due to an argument over "borrowed property."

The family were asleep when he poured petrol onto the front door of their home and set it alight.

Mrs Hendry, 48, woke up at 3am as a smoke alarm went off. Mr Hendry, also 48, tried to put out the flames but was unsuccessful, so the trio made their way outside.

Fire crews who arrived were able to extinguish the blaze but it had caused extensive damage.

Prosecutor Greg Farrell said: “Brian told the fire officer that someone had tried to murder him, however he did not expand.”

Police later traced Robertson to a friend’s home and he was arrested.

After the hearing, Mr Hendry told how he had borrowed boxing gloves from Robertson to use during lockdown, as gyms were closed.

He said they were later returned but Robertson believed he should have been paid £25 for them.

Recalling the night of the fire, Mr Hendry added: “As soon as I got in the hall, I could smell petrol and I knew it was on my door. I knew it was him, I didn’t have a problem with anybody else. It just came out of the boxing glove situation.

“It was a harrowing experience for me. When I saw the house was on fire, my first thoughts were panic.

“He had been texting me that he was going to set my house on fire and murder me.

“Three weeks later, he set the house on fire.”

Louise Arrol, defending, told today's hearing: “Whatever the background, there is no explanation for this conduct.”