ARSONIST Jamie Barrow has been found guilty of the murders of mum Fatoumatta Hydara, and daughters three-year-old Fatimah Drammeh and one-year-old Naeemah Drammeh.

Barrow, 31, who claimed starting fires helped him relieve stress, killed the family after pouring petrol and stuffing tissues through their letterbox in the early hours as they lay sleeping. 

Many members of the family attended court every day of the trial, and when the verdicts were delivered there were hugs and tears in the public gallery.

Barrow had denied murder but a jury in Nottingham unanimously found him guilty of the triple murder in November last year. He was also convicted of one count of arson being reckless as to whether life was in danger, a charge which he had also denied.

Hydara, 28, died in hospital two days after the blaze, after suffering smoke inhalation. The court heard that Barrow had a “grievance” against the family over rubbish left in an alleyway.

The court heard he watched the blaze as he ignored the screams from inside the flat. Prosecutors said Barrow knew the flat’s front door was the only way in and out when he set the fire.

The father and husband of the victims, Aboubacarr Drammeh, said he was in the process of moving his family to the United States to start a new life when they were killed in the fire

Barrow, a neighbour who lived near the family, appeared emotionless as the verdicts were read out. He will be sentenced on Friday.