Edinburgh woman who set own flat on fire jailed
An Edinburgh woman, who set fire to her council flat because she wanted out of it, endangered the lives of other tenants and caused £75,000 of damage.
At Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (Dec 8), 46-year old Tracey Henderson was jailed for 18 months having previously pled guilty to wilfully setting fire to 26/8 Northfield Drive in the city on August 17 this year. Sentence had been deferred for Social Work and psychiatric reports.
Fiscal Depute, Lewis Crosbie, told Sheriff John Beckett QC that about 9.40 pm a neighbour met Henderson in the common stairwell. "The accused appeared very calm" said the Fiscal "and said there was a fire in one of the flats, indicating her own flat. The neighbour looked in and saw smoke. Another neighbour heard the smoke alarm and saw a fire in the accused's living room. He went to get water to put the fire out and contacted the fire service".
Mr Crosbie said a number of fire appliances were sent to the block and four firefighters, with breathing apparatus, helped to get other residents out. One required oxygen because of smoke inhalation.
The fire had caused significant damage to the flat and common stair. The Fiscal added: "The accused said she had started the fire with her lighter.
The reason was she wanted to get out of the flat". A psychiatric report stated she was not suffering from mental illness at the time.
Some of the neighbours returned their homes that night, but others were advised to go elsewhere because of the lingering smell of smoke.
Solicitor Advocate Stuart Carson said his client had suffered mental health issues for some years and just weeks before the incident had gone to the Royal Edinburgh Hospital on four occasions to try and be admitted.
Mr Carson said he had seen "a quite marked change" in Henderson in recent weeks. She now appeared to be able to take things in. There was reference in the Social Work report to a possible non-custodial sentence, he said, but added that the problem was that Henderson, at present a prisoner in Corntonvale, had nowhere to stay.
Sheriff Beckett told Henderson: "This was a very serious crime which had significant consequences for other people, placed your neighbours in danger and damaged property".
He added that despite her health problems and limited criminal record there was not alternative to a custodial sentence. He also place Henderson on a nine month supervised release order.