A woman has been put behind bars after she put lives in danger by starting a fire.
Samantha Bond, 24, had taken heroin before she proceeded to use a naked flame to set fire to her own bed frame.
There were seven other vulnerable women in the Concrete Housing hostel, Shelton, at the time, Stoke-on-Trent Live reports.
Employees later discovered the extensive damage to the bed, bedding and carpet.
Bond has been sentenced to 27 months in jail at Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court.
Prosecutor Nick Tatlow said the defendant was living at Flower Pot Housing, Shelton, on September 11 when staff carried out a routine room check at 8pm.
Mr Tatlow said: "She was not there. Her bed was damaged and there were scorch marks to the bedding and carpet. She came back at 9.30pm holding a cigarette lighter.
"A fire examination found it happened at the side of the bed and a naked flame was applied in each location. This resulted in material burning away and dropping on the carpet below. The conclusion was the damage had been caused deliberately."
The defendant was arrested and she made immediate admissions as to setting her room on fire. She said other residents were antagonising her to do what she did.
She set two fires using a cigarette lighter. She saw the fire burn for five minutes or so but put it out with her hands. She accepted she had endangered the lives of others.
Bond, of The Flower Pot Hotel, Shelton, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Paul Cliff, mitigating, said the offence was based upon recklessness rather than intent. He said: "She had self-harmed shortly before the offence. She had a desire to kill herself.
"It is not suggested an accelerant was used to start the fire. A naked flame was held against the frame of the bed. The value of the damage was relatively modest, around £500.
"The fire was discovered from the damage, not when the fire was in progress.
"She is a vulnerable young woman. She was placed in the care system from a young age."
Judge Paul Glenn said the offence was so serious only custody could be justified. He told Bond: "You set fire to your room, one of a dozen in the premises you were living at.
"The fire was discovered by a member of staff at around 8pm. It had caused damage to your bed, bedding and carpet. You set fire to the frame of the bed using a naked flame. Seven other residents were in at the material time. They were plainly put at risk because fire is unpredictable.
"Fortunately no-one was injured and the fire was short-lived. But the consequences could have been catastrophic."
The judge said Bond told police she set fire using lighters. She claimed she was told to do it by other residents. She said she put out the fire with her hands and was under the influence of heroin at the time.
Judge Glenn added: "You regularly use heroin and monkey dust. You self-diagnosed as having bi-polar disorder.
"You were under the influence of drugs and possibly alcohol as well and multiple people were endangered."
The judge ordered the forfeiture and destruction of two lighters seized by the police.
Speaking after the case, PC Mark Aldridge, of Staffordshire Police, said: “Fellow residents of this premises could have received serious or even fatal injuries as a result of Bond’s actions.
“Thankfully, the fire was contained to a small area and appeared to run out of fuel naturally.
“I welcome this sentencing and hope it serves as an example to those who use fire as a method of causing damage. Arson carries serious implications to the wider community and is not tolerated in any form.”
Leigh Richards, investigation lead at Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service is pleased to see this sentencing.
“Fire investigators conducted a thorough inspection of the scene alongside our colleagues from Staffordshire Police, where we managed to collectively identify evidence of deliberate ignition and bring the perpetrator to justice."
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