A man has avoided a prison sentence 'by the skin of his teeth' after returning to put out a fire he started.
Jack Balmer made a Molotov cocktail and set it alight in the porch of the victim's Wigan flat, on July 9, following an argument between the pair.
Balmer, 24, quickly had a change of heart and got rid of the Molotov, before running away.
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Despite this, the victim's 14-year-old son still had to put out the remnants of the fire, after hearing the front porch open at around 11.30pm.
The teenager then ran to a neighbour, who described the boy as 'scared' and 'shaken up'.
Prosecution barrister Zoe Dawson told Bolton Crown Court that Balmer, of Holcroft Drive, Abram, decided to set the fire after falling out with a friend a week earlier.
On the day of the incident, they had a 'heated exchange' at around 5pm and Balmer eventually headed to the pub.
When the victim and his girlfriend walked in the pub later that evening, Balmer and the man had another argument.
Balmer left and made the Molotov, before heading to the man's house. He opened the front porch and set it alight before walking away.
Very shortly after, he returned and picked up the lit Molotov, before running away and getting rid of it.
Ms Dawson said: "It is clear that he realised the folly of his actions very quickly."
Despite this, there were still some paper on the floor of the porch that was alight, but the victim's son used water to put it out.
There was no fire damage to the house, just a liquid stain on the carpet.
The victim said that the incident left him 'physically shaken' and 'scared for himself and family'.
In a victim personal statement, he added that he was disgusted his son had been present at the time.
Balmer admitted to starting the fire in a police interview, after being identified on CCTV and arrested.
At the first opportunity, he pleaded guilty to arson - being reckless as to whether it would endanger life.
Defence barrister David Birrell said: "It was a moment of madness which could have been, but fortunately was not, devastating.
"He’s very sorry for what he did."
In mitigation, Mr Birrell said that Balmer is 'immature' and has ADHD. He added that there would a job as a pub chef waiting for him if he avoided jail.
The judge, Recorder Ciaran Rankin sentenced Balmer to two years imprisonment, suspended for two years.
He said: "Not only were you guilty of being responsible for the fire but you reacted quickly and appropriately.
"You have escaped by the skin of your teeth."
Balmer will have to complete 100 hours of unpaid work and 40 rehabilitation activity requirement days.
Recorder Rankin also imposed a five year restraining order, prohibiting Balmer from contacting the victim.
