Mark Miller has been jailed for almost nine years after he hid in his ex-wife 's home to spy on her and tried to set fire to her father and his own son . A man hid in the loft of his ex-wife 's home to spy on her before he tried to set his former father-in-law and three-year-old son on fire . Mark Miller , 39 , sneaked into the former marital home in Guisborough in east Cleveland and spied on his ex-wife after he refused to accept their 20-year relationship was over . The 39-year-old blamed his wife 's father for interfering in their breakup , and when he arrived in a car , also carrying Miller 's three-year-old son , Miller attempted to set fire to them - spraying lighter fluid on his former father-in-law . At a hearing at Teeside Crown Court Miller was jailed for eight years and nine months by Recorder James Brown , who told him : 'It is only by great good fortune that a catastrophe was avoided . ' Miller was caught hiding in the rafters of his wife 's home , spying on her and their children , after using a key she did not know he had to let himself in . The court heard that around 10 years before the attack , when the pair were still together , Miller had become convinced his wife was having an affair and set fire to her bed , holding her in the room saying he wanted them both to perish in the blaze . He was jailed for two-and-a-half years for reckless arson , but when he came out she forgave him and continued their relationship . However Shaun Dryden , prosecuting , said Miller then drinking heavily , hiding alcohol around the house , gambling and demanded frequent sex or he would visit prostitutes . In 2013 the pair split up and Miller began texting his estranged wife pictures pretending to hang himself , taking pills and of gravestones , threatening : ' I can get to your house quicker than the police can . ' He had previously been given a suspended sentence imposed for breaching a non-molestation order and a separate restraining order . This had banned him from contacting his ex-wife or coming within 200 metres of her home . But he breached this when he went to the house again last June as his ex-wife 's father pulled up in his car . Mr Dryden said : 'He approached the window and said 'This is the last f****** time you will interfere ' and began flicking the liquid through the driver 's window . Teeside Crown Court heard that Miller sprayed lighter fluid onto his former father-in-law through a car window . ' [ The man 's ] shirt and trousers were drenched . He began trying to activate the windows to close them while the defendant fumbled with a lighter trying to light it . ' He was convinced Miller would set him on fire and the court heard he had 'never been so frightened . ' In a victim impact statement read out in court , Mrs Miller I feel angry , ashamed and embarrassed by allowing myself and my children to be victims to this . She said even though her young son was too young to realise what had happened , he remembered seeing his grandfather frightened as he argued with the boy 's father . Miller , of Whitby , admitted attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent , breaching a non-molestation order and breaching a restraining order . Graham Silvester , defending , said : 'He regrets bitterly the hurt and anxiety he has caused his ex partner and her family . He was far from a well man when he undertook the course for which he falls to be sentenced . He is a hard working industrious man . ' Miller was also given an extended three year licence period .
MillerMark Miller sneaked into his ex-wife 's home to spy on her and their children . He blamed his former father-in-law for break up of his 20 year relationship . Ex-wife 's father drove to family home and Mark Miller threw lighter fluid on him . The man had Mark Miller 's three-year-old son in the car with him at the time . Mark Miller then tried to set light to him , while he was still in the vehicle with boy . He was jailed for eight years for the attack and breaching restraining order .