A HUSBAND has been convicted of setting ablaze the £500,000 home he built with his former wife after they became embroiled in a bitter legal wrangle.

Paul Garvey, of Mead Court, Merstow Place, Evesham, went to the unoccupied country property in the middle of the night, broke a window and started a fire in the living room.

He took action after a judge awarded his ex-wife Caroline 65 per cent of the house sale profits and Garvey 35 per cent following the breakdown of their marriage, Worcester Crown Court heard.

Garvey confessed: "I was stitched up like a kipper. I felt quite aggrieved."

Forensic scientists matched fragments of glass found in his jacket by police to the broken window.

The 59-year-old former hairdresser was found guilty of arson at the end of a two-day trial.

Recorder Neil Cameron remanded him on bail for pre-sentence and medical reports. He was told to return to court on September 11.

Prosecutor Laura Kasasian said the fire on October 2 last year caused £2,000 damage to furniture, walls and ceilings.

The house called The Croft in Stockwood, near Feckenham, was built by the couple 18 years ago but a legal battle for ownership ended in the courts.

Garvey, who suffered a stroke and heart surgery, said he was 'amazed' by the judgement giving his ex-wife the lion's share.

After leaving hospital he had gone to live there and daubed a slogan on a wall which read, Caroline you're a thief.

He also added a sneering sex comment.

Garvey left the house after being threatened with 28 days jail for contempt of court in defiance of an order banning him from the property.

He told the jury he was listening to CDs at the time of the blaze because he had difficulty sleeping.

He also claimed he removed an identical window from the property to gain entry before the fire which was later broken by his ex-wife.

Garvey alleged fragments of that window got onto his jacket or a police officer who went to the scene accidentally contaminated it during his arrest.

Defence counsel Julian Harris said police had 'over-egged' evidence about the shards found on his jacket being burned and charred.

A forensic scientist rejected the suggestion there was any charring on the glass she examined.