A MORECAMBE man allegedly set fire to his flat because his dead stepfather had told him to do it, a jury has heard.

It was alleged that after setting fire to two chairs, David Pennock, 38, of Yorkshire Street, and Sam Stone, 35, of Railway Street, Bradford, told two 12 year olds girls what they had done.

Both men were convicted of arson with intent to endanger life at Preston Crown Court on Wednesday and both were bailed until November 5 pending reports.

The court heard how Pennock, with help from Stone, was moving his possessions into a new flat in Yorkshire Street and, before he left, set fire to two arm chairs stacked on top of each other. The jury at Preston Crown Court heard that as they left the two defendants met two young girls who said they could smell smoke.

The girls asked if they had started a fire and Stone said they had.

He added: "If you don't believe us - you'll find out in the morning when you're dead."

A neighbour tried to put out the fire but had to call the fire brigade.

When questioned Pennock said he had lit some paper when the lights fused but there was no fire when he left the flat.

Stone denied starting any fire and said he had no recollection of speaking to the girls.

Prosecuting, Mr Roger Green said that Pennock had earlier spoken to another man saying that his late stepfather had told him to do it.

But in evidence Pennock denied being visited by the spirit of his dead stepfather and starting a fire.

Stone said he only told the young girls he had started a fire to wind them up.

"They were always winding me up," he complained, "so I thought I'd get my own back," he said.

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