An angry son threatened to burn his mother’s house down and blow up a car during an acrimonious dispute with his sister.

Sean Sheehy sent text messages to his sister Ellen in which he also threatened to attack her boyfriend’s car outside the family home in Sandfords, Kennford, near Chudleigh.

Sheehy was angry because he did not feel he was getting as much support as he needed from his family over his attempts to find somewhere to live.

At the time he sent the texts he was on a suspended sentence for leading police on a 45-minute chase around Crediton and Copplestone in a stolen car.

Sheehy, aged 21, of Haldon Road, Exeter, admitted sending a malicious communication and was curfewed for three months by Judge Geoffrey Mercer, QC, at Exeter Crown Court.

He decided not to activate the nine-month suspended sentence but made a restraining order banning any further communication with his sister.

The judge told him: ‘You continue to be subject to the suspended sentence and you need to understand you may go to prison if you commit any offence.

‘You need to address your issues. We can’t have you shouting or sending abuse and anyone in the future.’

Mr Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, said Sheehy sent the texts on January 9 this year, making the threats and saying ’I’m fed up with this bullsh**ing so-called family’.

Miss Rachel Smith, defending, said Sheehy has now found a permanent home in a bedsit in Exeter and has been assessed as being suitable for a curfew.

He is now working with probation on issues include anger management.