A COWERING woman thought she would be set on fire after her boyfriend soaked her with lighter fluid before trying to spark his lighter.

Odin Perryman tried to ignite his lighter after he had doused his terrified girlfriend Melanie Miah in the flammable liquid.

Oxford Magistrates’ Court was told Miss Miah, who then lived with Perryman at his home in Havers Avenue, Milton, near Abingdon, was convinced he wanted to set her on fire.

Perryman, 36, was due to face trial for the charge of assault by beating, but changed his plea to guilty at the last moment.

Prosecuting, Rebecca Waller told the court the pair had been in an on-off relationship for about two years.

She said they had broken up in April when he was convicted of criminal damage after punching a hole in her bedroom door.

Later that month, she said they reunited and he moved back in with Miss Miah. But in June, a row broke out.

Ms Waller said: “He had been upset that she had sided with a friend during an argument and he couldn’t understand.

“When she was in bed, he picked up a can of lighter fluid and doused her in it. Most of it went on her hair and body as well.

“He picked up the lighter and started to flick it at her. It was fortunate for her that he wasn’t able to light it that time.

“She was absolutely convinced she was going to be set on fire and describes herself as being incredibly frightened and terrified, thinking she was going to be injured. He then turned and kicked the bedroom door and left.”

Miss Miah did not report the incident until later.

In mitigation, James Constable told the court Perryman suffered from learning difficulties and had trouble with anger management.

He said that Perryman denied that he intentionally poured the fluid on to Miss Miah.

He said: “He accepts during the incident that some lighter fluid might have gone on her, but that was not an intentional act.”

He is due to be sentenced on October 11.

Perryman admitted assault by beating, two counts of criminal damage, and further admitted the commission of an offence while subject to a conditional discharge.

He was granted conditional bail.