AN ARSONIST was found guilty of murdering a three-year-old girl when he started a devastating blaze at her family home in a revenge attack.

“Bitter” Graham Heaps, 44, was unanimously convicted of killing Francesca Bimpson when he turned her Everton home into an inferno while in a jealous rage.

The youngster suffered 85% burns in the arson attack and died in hospital three weeks later.

Heaps denied murder, claiming he had gone into the burning building to try to save Francesca and her siblings.

But Liverpool Crown Court jurors rejected his story. They took 3½hours to find the pub handyman guilty of pouring petrol through the letterbox of the family home and setting the Norwood Grove house alight. Following the verdict, trial judge Mr Justice Henriques said he would sentence Heaps today and asked for him to be taken down to the cells. He faces a possible life sentence.

As Heaps was led away by three security guards, Francesca’s mother Eleanor Skelhorne screamed: “That’s wiped the smirk off your face, hasn’t it? You’re horrible.”

She was hugged by police family liaison officers who had supported her during the trial.

They led her weeping from the courtroom. The verdict had been greeted by cheers and shouts of “yes” from the public gallery – which has been filled throughout the trial. Afterwards, many other families members and supporters also then broke down in tears.

But Heaps, formerly of Conwy Drive, Everton, but now of Woodside Terrace, Crumlin, South Wales, showed no reaction.

The labourer has remained impassive during the three-week trial, studying legal papers and chewing on a pen throughout.

He simply walked away as Ms Skelhorne made the outburst.

Several female members of the jury looked also upset during the short hearing and deliberately looked away from Heaps.

Mr Justice Henriques thanked the panel of seven men and five women for their services, and asked them to attend the sentencing hearing.

He said: “It’s right you should see it through to the end.”