A BUSINESSMAN'S son threatened to burn down the family home after he was refused money to spend at a pub.

Bricklayer Oliver Higgins, of Balan Farm, Packhorse Lane, Wythall, poured petrol onto the kitchen and living room floors, Worcester Crown Court heard.

His terrified father, convinced the arson threat would be carried out, ordered his wife to leave the premises and called police and the fire brigade, said Jennifer Josephs, prosecuting.

But 18-year-old Higgins did not strike a match. He was arrested three days later and gave police a "no comment" interview.

In another incident, he and an accomplice attacked a 17-year-old youth they accused of deliberately breaking a van's wing mirror.

Higgins pleaded guilty to making threats to destroy property, assaulting Andrew Richards and causing him actual bodily harm and stealing his gold chain.

Judge Andrew Geddes said two psychiatrists had concluded Higgins had shown signs of a treatable personality disorder. A report said he had "callous unconcern for the feelings of others" and "low threshold of aggression".

The judge said the defendant should be "deeply ashamed" of the fire threat which must have caused his parents great fear.

After hearing Higgins had spent 112 days in custody on remand, the judge said he was prepared to give him a last chance.

Higgins was sentenced to a three-year community rehabilitation order on condition he complied with psychiatric treatment.

Miss Josephs said on January 31 Higgins asked his mother for pub money but his father intervened, saying cash was needed to pay for tyres allegedly slashed by his son.

Later, Higgins came in with a petrol can and announced: "I'm going to burn the house down."

His father had noticed his son's behaviour had deteriorated over the past four years due to a hyperactive disorder.

Miss Josephs said Higgins was already on bail for the attack on Mr Richards.

A van carrying Higgins as a passenger struck the victim's arm in Houndsfield Lane, Wythall, and the youth chased into a field.

Higgins and accomplice Neil Moriarty beat him up, Higgins threatening to bite his ear off. He also stole the teenager's mobile phone and gold chain as compensation for the broken mirror.

Moriarty was seperately fined £500 with £1,070 costs.

Defence barrister, Tom Schofield, said Higgins's father had begged the Crown Prosecution Service to drop the fire threat charge and had made three retraction statements.

He said although Higgins represented a continuing risk he was not "inherently dangerous" and had family support. The plan was for him to work for his father.