A pensioner from Elton has admitted an arson charge after a house was severely damaged in North Wales earlier this year.

Nicholas Weaver also admitted assaulting his former partner and damaging a double glazed window, ornaments and a BT telephone box at Llandrillo near Corwen on March 11.

Weaver was today (Monday, May 9) further remanded in custody pending sentence in July.

Television link

He appeared at Mold Crown Court via a live television link from Altcourse Prison in Liverpool.

Weaver denied a charge of arson with intent to destroy property and being reckless whether life would be endangered.

That denial was accepted when he admitted an alternative charge of reckless arson.

Denied threat to kill

He denied threatening to kill his former partner Patricia Oldfield and threatening to destroy her car and those two charges were allowed to remain on the file.

The 68-year-old of Lime Grove, Elton, was told his case would be adjourned for a pre-sentence report and a report on the counselling he had since received.

Judge Niclas Parry said he would be given significant credit for his pleas but warned him to prepare himself for a custodial sentence.

Lost his temper

The court heard Weaver was a man of good character who had lost his temper and set the house on fire after his partner had left the property.

Firefighters fought for more than two hours to put out the blaze at Blaen y Cwm, Llandrillo near Corwen which left two downstairs rooms completely gutted.