A FATHER with a grudge against social services who held a woman prisoner in her own home has been jailed for life.

Andrew Roberts broke into the house expecting to find the social worker who had handled a case that led to his son being taken into care.

But she had changed address -- and instead, a mother-of-two who had moved into the property at Oswaldtwistle feared for her life in a terrifying ordeal.

Speaking after the case, Detective Inspector Bob Eastwood called Roberts one of the most 'violent and vindictive' men he had come across and was convinced that his intention was to murder his victim.

Roberts poured petrol into the home on Stanhill Lane and tied up the woman as he tried to gain information about where the previous occupant had moved to.

Roberts, 40, formerly of Oaks Avenue, Bolton, had pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment, possession of articles with intent to cause damage by fire and possession of an offensive weapon.

Judge Peter Openshaw QC told him at the end of a Preston Crown Court hearing: "I would be failing in my duty if I did not pass a life prison sentence."

The defendant had developed a grievance against Bury Social Services and one social worker in particular, during care proceedings over his son that took place in the late 1990's.

At that time he was living in Bury.

He continued to nurse this grievance after he and his family moved to Bolton, to a different social services area, said Charles Brown, prosecuting.

He found out where the social worker lived and in March last year visited the area.

However, the woman had sold the house in January and had moved out when the defendant forced entry.

He had been expressing violent sentiments towards that social worker and also towards his own family before being asked to leave his family home.

Lancashire Evening Telegraph tele-ads employee Joanne Trickett, the new occupant at the Stanhill Lane address, woke after midnight to see the defendant, dressed totally in black, who broken into the house.

He had poured petrol into the property and demanded to know where the social worker was.

Mr Brown said "The defendant was unwilling to accept that she was unaware where the person now lived. He continued to question her.

"She was extremely frightened, not only for her own safety, perhaps even more for her two children asleep upstairs. She feared for her and their lives."

He made the woman lie on the floor and tied her wrists behind her back.

Roberts eventually left and was arrested following a car chase in Bury.

He had a previous conviction in 1999 for common assault on the social worker.

Roberts represented himself at the hearing and made a long speech claiming he and his family had been a perfectly normal, decent family before social services got involved.