A SON set fire to his Southend home intending to kill his own mother before fleeing the scene to buy a McDonald’s milkshake, a court heard.

Andrew Wilding, 42, is standing trial accused of murder after setting fire to the home he shared with his mum, Elsie Pinder, 66, in Southchurch Road.

Yesterday, the jury was told that he fled the home in the early hours of July 3 last year - just 80 seconds before smoke was seen coming from the flat - to drive to McDonald’s.

When he returned, he found his neighbour attempting to rescue his mum from the blaze.

Prosecuting, Andrew Jackson, said: “He left at that time to preserve his own safety and so he could say later he was out at the time.

“He lived there with his mother who has mobility issues and had a stroke years before. In the early hours of the morning he set fire to the flat deliberately intending to kill his mother.

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“He knew her mobility issues would make it difficult for her to escape. He drove to McDonald’s near Southend Airport to buy a milkshake and he stayed there for a time, we say to ensure the fire was underway.

“He went back expecting her to be dead and his main focus was to make up fake accounts and causes such as batteries.

“He mentioned about how he used a model toy helicopter which didn’t work and that could have been a cause.”

Wilding was sat in the dock wearing glasses and a grey top, remaining emotionless throughout the first day of the trial at Basildon Crown court.

Mr Jackson told the court that they prosecution believed Wilding intentionally killed his mother for “financial gain”.

He added: “He had come to see to her as a burden and someone in the way of his financial wealth and independence.

“We say it was absolute recklessness to the danger of the family living above the home.

“The position she was in suggested she tried to escape and neighbours head her screaming out for her son. She was overcome by poisionous smoke and suffered cardiac arrest, heart attack and inhaled a lot of toxic gas.”

Mr Wilding denies charges of murder and being reckless to whether life was endangered.

The trial continues.