A FORMER husband doused himself in petrol outside his ex-wife’s house and threatened to set himself alight.

In a “desperate plea for attention”, Wayne Jervis, 40, went to the home of Natalie Jervis and stood on the doorstep with a full can of petrol, hurling abuse at her and her family, a court was told.

The Recorder of York, Judge Stephen Ashurst, heard how Wayne Jervis then poured petrol over himself and the front door of the house in Bramwell Avenue, Chapelfields, York.

The incident, on February 24, followed days of abuse, said Alan Mitchison, prosecuting, including threatening behaviour, harassment and assault.

“Mrs Jervis and her family were extremely frightened by his actions,” he said.

The court heard Mrs Jervis made a terrified call to police while she and her family cowered in the house.

When officers arrived “petrol was ever where” and Wayne Jervis was soaked in the accelerant.

Judge Ashurst said he was “extremely concerned” as to what the consequences of Wayne Jervis’s terrifying behaviour would have been on his former partner and her family.

He told Wayne Jervis a custodial sentence was very likely.

Defence Katherine Robertson told the court that Wayne Jervis, who pleaded guilty to assault and harassment, had a number of psychological problems.

She said the estranged couple had a tempestuous relationship but Wayne Jervis did not intend to endanger the life of his ex-wife or that of her family and said her client sincerely regretted his actions.

“This is a man who tried to take his own life earlier that day then visited his estranged partner’s home,” she said. “He accepts that what he has done – that he took a full can of petrol to her doorstep. But the intention was to take his own life not to endanger anyone else’s.”

She said Jervis had poured petrol over himself and as a result the accelerant splattered over the front door.

Judge Ashurst said: “This is a very serious matter and the court is concerned about the fear you would have caused Mrs Jervis and her family.

“I appreciate your early guilty plea – but for the sake of also being honest I want to make it clear that a prison sentence is very possible.”

Jervis is on remand until his sentencing next month.