A Tenby man accused of setting fire to a house in a fit of jealousy will go through a retrial after a jury failed to agree on a verdict.

Dominic Fecci, aged 26, is charged with arson at a house his former girlfriend was staying at.

The prosecution at Swansea Crown Court claimed he was jealous at the thought she may be with another man.

Despite more than seven hours of deliberation, the jury could not reach even a majority verdict and they were discharged by Judge John Diehl.

The jury did, however, return verdicts of not guilty in relation to two other charges - causing criminal damage in the kitchen of the house and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Dyfed Thomas, prosecuting, told the judge the Crown Prosecution Service wished to continue with the case alleging arson.

Judge Diehl said it was unlikely the retrial would be before early May.

Fecci, of Upper Frog Street, was granted bail until then.

During his trial, the jury heard how Jade Marie Broadhurst had agreed to 'housesit' a property in Lower Park Road, Tenby, while the occupant, her aunt Katherine Broadhurst, holidayed in America.

On New Year's Eve 2007, she visited various pubs around the centre of Tenby and bumped into Fecci, her former partner. She described the relationship as 'off and on', but 'off' at that stage.

Miss Broadhurst said she had not intended to go out and Fecci seemed to be angry to see her on the town without him knowing.

Miss Broadhurst returned to her aunt's house where she met up with a friend, Celia McGilloway, who was sleeping there so she could get to work at the nearby Five Ways Spar store on time the following morning.

But soon afterwards, Miss Broadhurst decided to walk to her grandmother's house, leaving Miss McGilloway alone in the house.

Miss McGilloway said she had gone to sleep and had not realised Miss Broadhurst had left the house in the middle of the night.

She said she awoke to see Fecci standing in the doorway of her bedroom, asking where Miss Broadhurst was.

"He said he thought she was with another man. He was quite angry, jealous," she added.

She decided to leave and telephoned her mother in Lamphey.

Miss Gilloway said as her mother arrived to collect her outside the Five Ways Spar she saw Fecci walk past. Fearing he may have left the house unsecured she asked her mother to drive the short distance back.

By then, a fire alarm was going off and she could see smoke.

Miss McGilloway said she dialled 999 and, while waiting for a fire engine, again saw Fecci.

This time he ran into the burning building looking, she thought, for Miss Broadhurst.