A woman tried to burn down a man’s house by posting a burning rag through his letterbox - but she got the wrong flat.
Janie Ann Peckitt had spoken to the man a few times but felt he had “let her down” leading to her drunken revenge attack.
In the early hours of August 11, 2022, the 57-year-old woman armed herself with fuel and travelled to the flat in Grimsby before lighting the rag and posting it through the letterbox where she believed the man lived.
However, Peckitt had got the wrong flat as the man hadn't moved in yet, and instead she targeted the home of an elderly man with limited mobility in the cruel arson attack.
She caused thousands of pounds’ worth of damage but the resident was fortunately able to escape without injury.
Then, when emergency services responded, she “spat in the face” of a police officer.
Peckitt, also from Grimsby, admitted arson with intent to endanger life and the assault of an emergency worker following the horrific incident.
The woman admitted to having just met the man on “a couple of occasions” but it was said she had felt he “let her down”, GrimsbyLive reported.
Appearing at Grimsby Crown Court on Wednesday, she was sentenced to six years in prison.
Prosecuting, David Hall told the court: "Ms Peckitt was jealous because of his conduct and did some digging to find out where he lives and went, armed with accelerants, and put them through his letterbox - but got the wrong house.
“It was an old man with limited mobility. The way she armed herself with an accelerant, a rag and a lighter - she had a clear intention that he should suffer harm."
When police and emergency services arrived at the blaze at 2.30am Peckitt "spat in the face" of a police officer, the court heard.
Mitigating, Craig Lowe told the court that Peckitt suffers with complex post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health problems following childhood abuse and a history of violent relationships.
He said: "There was no damage caused to anyone physically. Because of her mental health difficulties she is more likely to act in an impulsive manner.
"She has had 25 years of mental health problems. She felt the man let her down."
Sentencing Peckitt, Judge John Thackray KC said: "You had known your intended victim for a very short period.
"It was an extraordinary reaction after such a limited interaction.
"These courts are well familiar with the horrific consequences of those who set fires.
"Fires quickly take hold, lives are easily endangered and lives are lost, and that could have so easily happened here - not to your intended victim, because you were given the wrong address - a man with significant mobility difficulties.
"It was only by pure chance that he had not properly moved into the property and was in the process of moving in his possessions.
"Had your offence taken place a week or two later, you could so easily have been sat in that dock being sentenced for murder and facing a life sentence."
Peckitt was sentenced to six years in prison. She will have to serve half before being considered for release on licence.
