Ryan Love forced his way into a neighbour’s property before launching the horrific attack on the people inside the home who he had known for some time.
The 31-year-old armed himself with two blades and the petrol in a squeezy bottle before carrying out the violence, Teesside Crown Court heard.
Annelise Haugstad, prosecuting, said three people were inside the house during the defendant’s prolonged attack on a couple and one of their friends.
“He entered the property wearing a balaclava carrying a bottle of accelerant and a five-inch knife,” she said.
“After he entered the kitchen, he pulled off his balaclava and the woman didn’t recognise him as his face was so contorted with anger but he started talking she realised who it was.”
The court heard how Love then squirted them with petrol and pulled a lighter out repeatedly threatening them saying – ‘I will light you up’.
Ms Haugstad said he told them they were ‘all going to die’ as he assaulted each of the three people inside the house.
One of the victims, a woman in her 60s, said she had known the defendant for around 14 years.
The court heard how Love slashed one of the men across the face with a small knife before he pulled out a larger knife and threatened them all with it.
Ms Haugstad said the defendant then started throwing ornaments, fridge and hoover at them before hitting another male with a metal bar.
In a victim impact statement, one of the men said he now sleeps with a mattress against his bedroom door fearing that he could be attacked again and branded his attacker a ‘coward’.
The court heard how one of the victims required surgery and remained in hospital for several days.
Love, of Humber Place, Darlington, pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary, wounding with intent and assault occasioning actual bodily harm from September 25 last year.
The court heard how the defendant had a history of violence on his record.
Nick Murphy, mitigating, said his client has been diagnosed with complex PTSD and accepted that Love had turned up at the house armed with knives and petrol.
He urged the judge to step back from imposing an extended prison sentence.
Judge Richard Bennett branded Love a dangerous offender as he passed a15 year and eight-month extended sentence.
“You were described as being angry and your face was contorted,” he said.
“You told those present that they were all going to die and then you began to assault the occupants. They were no match for you physically.
“You slashed one across the face with a Stanley blade – you slashed his legs and he was bleeding heavily – he was also covered in accelerant.
“You then began to threaten others with the knife and struck one man across the arm with an iron bar before you hit him across the head with some ornaments.”
Love was made subject of a 15-year restraining order.
