A MAN who fell out with his cell-mate while in prison took revenge after his release by setting fire to the man's flat.

Appearing at Bolton Crown Court, Michael O'Hara (20) of Seddon Avenue, Radcliffe, pleaded guilty to reckless arson and was sent to prison for two-and-a-half years.

His former cell-mate, Stephen Kelly (20) of Taylor Street, Radcliffe, says he is "satisfied" with the result and is now concentrating on putting his life back together.

The pair shared a cell at Hindley Remand Centre in 1996 when Mr Kelly was serving a nine-month sentence for aggravated vehicle-taking.

He said: "We never got on. Every night when I tried to get some sleep he would punch me. He never left me alone."

Shortly after he was sent to prison Mr Kelly had a phone-call from his 19-year-old pregnant girlfriend, Yvonne, and discovered that she had lost the baby.

"Obviously, I was devastated," said Mr Kelly. "I just broke down crying on the phone.

"I had some pictures of the baby before it was born. When Michael saw them he said I was sick and that when he got out he would 'get' me and my girl-friend.

"It was bad enough hearing about Yvonne, so I could do without the extra agro." On his last night in prison Mr Kelly was moved to another cell.

And O'Hara threatened that, when he got out of prison, Kelly's "love nest" would not last long.

On Christmas Eve last year Mr Kelly and his girlfriend went to her mother's house for two days. When they returned on Boxing Day they found that the flat had been broken into and there had been a fire. Damage to the flat was estimated at £4,000.

Said Mr Kelly: "Most of the furniture was destroyed and the place was a mess. "The walls and ceiling were black from the smoke, the stereo had melted, and the carpet I'd just bought the week before was smoke-damaged.

"My girl-friend lost her dancing trophies, and personal letters that were lying around had all been opened.

"The police asked me if I knew anyone who had a grudge against me and I immediately thought of Michael, who I knew was out of prison by now.

Mr Henry Blackshaw, prosecuting at Bolton Crown Court, told how O'Hara's fingerprints were found at the scene and how a neighbour reported that a drunken man answering O'Hara's description had asked the whereabouts of Mr Kelly's flat on Christmas Eve.

When he was arrested, O'Hara provided an alibi which proved to be false.

Mr Kelly moved to an aunt's house while his own flat was being redecorated and, with a £250 emergency grant to buy a bed and a cooker, he moved back home in February. Now he says he wants to put his time in prison behind him and concentrate on looking for a job.

"I've not got much left," he said. "But I just want to be left alone to get on with my life.

"I'm not worried about him coming after me again, because I won't be here when he gets out."

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