Telford arson woman gets three years in jail

A mother who set fire to the house where her children lived with her ex-husband while in a drunken rage has been jailed for three years.

Rhoda Harper, 43, of West Road, Wellington, lit paper with white spirit from a nearby garden shed before stuffing it through the letterbox of the house in Trench where her ex-husband Andrew and two children lived.

She started the fire on April 20 in an attempt to damage her ex's motorbike leather.

The jacket was lying near the front door and Harper had been served an order restricting access to her children earlier that day.

Neighbour Christopher Hope spotted the fire and doused the flames spread.

Harper, who admitted arson at a previous hearing, had drunk two quarter litre bottles of vodka before the incident, Shrewsbury Crown Court was told today.

And judge Robin Onions, sentencing Harper, told her he believed she was a danger to others when under the influence of alcohol.

Mr Robert Edwards, prosecuting, said Harper had become separated from her husband after a row and Mr Harper controlled access to the couple's children, who lived with him.

He said Harper had been spotted in the area earlier by neighbours. She made several efforts to light paper through the letter box before going to the shed to find white spirit.

Mr Edwards said Harper knew the house was empty but said it was attached to neighbouring homes.

A fire report said the blaze could have resulted in a fatality. The door was destroyed by fire and £3,000 of damage was caused.

Mr Paul Smith, for Harper, said she only acted in such a way when under the influence of alcohol.

Judge Onions told Harper: "After receiving unwelcome news you started drinking excessively you were hopelessly drunk.

"You were grossly reckless about how much damage was caused and left the house and neighbours to their fate".