Woman poured petrol in her partner's flat and lit cigarette

Frightened neighbours rushed to the property, in Wem, after smelling the fuel and overhearing shouting coming from the property occupied by Rebecca Wiltshire, 38, and Adrian Oswell.

Miss Sati Ruck, prosecuting, told Shrewsbury Crown Court that the couple had been arguing prior to the incident on July 20 after the defendant returned upset from a counselling appointment at about 6pm for personal problems.

"Mr Oswell picked her up.They were arguing on the way home due her being upset about an issue from her past that came to light at the counselling session. Having arrived home a short time later the defendant went out to pick up a take away and stopped for a drink. Mr Oswell took the dog for a walk and the bumped into each other in the street but he was unhappy that she'd had a drink. She returned home.

"While Mr Oswell was out he received calls and text messages threatening that she was going to burn everything that he owned. He returned home at about 10.20pm and saw the defendant in the lounge with a bottle of vodka and wine. The defendant had a jerry can that had bout two litres of petrol in it. She told him, "I'll show you how crazy I am" and proceeded to pour the petrol over the kitchen and lounge.

"Mr Oswell called the police. The defendant tried to clean up. She ignored the requests by Mr Oswell to leave the flat. She lit up a cigarette and when the police officers arrived the defendant was arrested," Miss Ruck said.

She said other two other neighbours, who were in the block, in Heckford Road, told officers they felt "scared".

Miss Ruck said Wiltshire, a mother-of-five, admitted in interview what she'd done and told officers "it was a stupid thing to do". The court heard the couple had split up since the incident and the defendant had returned to Worcestershire to be closer to her children..

Mr Andrew Holland, mitigating, said: "She had too much to drink. She took some petrol from the garden shed. It was a cry for help. She splashed it round the flat and had no intention of lighting it."

He explained that Wiltshire, who has previous convictions including for driving while disqualified, and failing to provide a specimen of breath, was separated from her husband and that their children lived with him.

Judge Jonathan Gosling sentenced Wiltshire, now of Blanquettes Avenue, Worcester, to 18 months jail suspended for two years, she must also carry out 100 hours unpaid work, attend 30 rehabilitation days and attend six alcohol treatment sessions.

The defendant pleaded guilty to an offence of threatening criminal damage at a previous hearing.