Hove woman jailed after attempting to set fire to family home
Two young children were inside at the time of the attack, which was caught on camera
Last updated 23rd Feb 2022
A Hove woman has been jailed after trying to set fire to a family home with two young children inside.
Sussex Police has released video footage showing the moment Talisa Windsor pours 3.7 litres of petrol around the front door of the property in Moyne Close at 6.35pm on May 11th last year.
She attempted to set the petrol, stolen from a nearby petrol station, alight by filling a broken bottle with petrol and tissue and throwing it at the door.
Fortunately it failed to ignite and all those inside were able to escape the building unharmed.
Windsor, who is 30 and of Amberley Drive, was jailed for six years, including a further three on extended licence, at Chichester Crown Court on Friday (February 18) after being found guilty of attempted arson reckless as to endangering life.
Police were called after members of the public reported smelling petrol and Windsor was witnessed filling the bottle with petrol nearby.
She was swiftly arrested while officers visited the Moyne Close address to ensure the safety of the occupants, who had escaped.
Windsor was also caught on CCTV stealing the petrol and carrying out the attack.
It was later revealed Windsor had sent a number of threatening messages to the occupants, who were known to her, in the days leading up to the incident - including several death threats.
She was charged with attempted arson with intent to endanger life, remanded in custody and in October was found guilty of attempted arson reckless as to endangering life by a jury.
Investigating officer DC Rose Horan of Sussex Police said:
“This was an extremely disturbing incident which threatened the lives of a family with two young children, who were inside the house when Talisa Windsor attempted to set it alight.
“CCTV showed that the cigarette lighter did ignite, so it was extremely lucky that the 3.7L of petrol around the front door did not go up in flames. Had that happened, we could have been looking at a tragic outcome.
“Nonetheless, his Honour Judge Trimmer found Windsor met the criteria for a dangerous offender and passed an extended sentence.
“I would like to thank the victims, witnesses and everybody who supported the investigation for their help in bringing a dangerous individual to justice.”