A man described as “lovely” when sober but who’d started drinking more heavily after leaving the RAF had threatened to burn down his house, a court heard.

Johnathon Smith, 49, of Nant Mawr Road, Buckley, pleaded guilty to threatening to cause criminal damage likely to endanger life.

Judge Niclas Parry told him at Mold Crown Court on Monday that the threats would have left people fearing for their safety.

But he added: ”I have no doubt this conduct is entirely out of character.

"You have led otherwise an impeccable life. You have lived a life of service.”

A six months jail term was suspended for a year.

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Smith must do 100 hours unpaid work and undergo rehabilitation.

Judge Parry also ordered him to wear an alcohol abstinence monitoring tag for 90 days and made a restraining order.

Defence barrister Simon Killeen had urged the Judge not to impose immediate custody.

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Prosecutor David Mainstone said Smith and his partner had been in a relationship for three years.

But they had a bust-up in July and he brought a can of petrol in the house.

Smith had texted his sister, threatening: “I’m burning it all down.”