HE was convicted of manslaughter in 2001 for battering his lover, Deborah Wheatley, to death with a mallet.

She had refused to leave her husband for him.

For his crime, Mark Goldstraw, 31, was sentenced to seven years' jail, but was released in 2004.

Then by the end of last year, he faced yet another rejection - this time from a 16-year-old, reported Britain's Evening Standard.

So in March he allegedly took revenge. He set her house in Staffordshire, England, on fire, burning the teen to death, along with her sister Patricia, 10, brother Marcus, 7, and their mother's boyfriend, Mr Roddy Hine, 44.

Goldwater befriended Mr Hine through their common passion for motorcycles. And that was how he met Samantha.

But by last Christmas, the relationship was over.


JEALOUS


Samantha grew tired of his jealousy and obsession and told him to leave her alone.

He pleaded with her, sending SMSes.

Her mother, Mrs Amanda Carter, told the jurors at his trial on Wednesday: 'He started pestering her - one minute saying he loved her, the next calling her names.'

Goldstraw even lied to them that he had been diagnosed with a brain tumour in a bid to win Samantha's sympathy.

When his attempts failed, he threatened to kill her and her family, said prosecuting lawyer Christopher Hotten.

Eventually Samantha changed her handphone number.

Mr Hotten told the court: '(Goldstraw) made plans to take revenge upon Samantha and her family to deal with the rejection.'

The lawyer suggested that Goldstraw had 'a propensity or inclination towards extreme violence in the face of rejection'.

On 9 Mar, Goldstraw was alleged to have gone to the family's home with a holdall containing at least one can of petrol, a tealight and a cigarette lighter.

He let himself in with a key that he had been given previously when the adults went away on holiday.

He was said to have spread petrol around the hallway and set the fire.

The petrol vapour explosion woke the neighbours, one of whom heard Marcus' chilling screams through their shared wall.

Some rushed outside to see Patricia trapped in the front bedroom.

But such was the intensity of the blaze that no one could be saved.

Mrs Carter was working at the time and police had to contact her at the nursing home where she worked to tell her the bad news.

Goldstraw was arrested the following morning, but refused to say where he was the previous evening.

He later claimed he was riding his bike at the time of the fire.


EVIDENCE


Police found his fleece, jeans and trainers in a rubbish bin outside his mother's home, Mr Hotten said.

They were said to have smelt strongly of petrol and bore scorch marks.

A teddy bear, necklace, pair of earrings and watch identified by Mrs Carter as belonging to Samantha were found in his leather jacket, he added.

And a holdall found near the scene of the fire contained petrol residues and fibres matching Goldstraw's fleece.

Mr Hotten also told the jury that a witness who saw a man running from the blaze had identified him as Goldstraw.

He is charged with four counts of murder, all of which he denies.

The trial continues.