A drunken woman remained at the scene after setting her friend’s flat alight, a court has heard.
Pauline Wardrobe, 56, of no fixed abode, failed to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on Wednesday and was sentenced in her absence. She was found guilty by a jury after a trial of arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered, but did not attend the trial or her plea hearing.
Olivia Beesley, prosecuting, detailed that on October 10, 2021, Wardrobe had been staying at her friend Steven Riley’s home at 4 Alwyn Street in Aigburth, for around three weeks. At 10am, Mr Riley went into Liverpool City Centre for some drinks, leaving his flat empty.
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He returned home to find the fire service at his home and a neighbour informed him that his flat was on fire. Neighbours were alerted to the fire at around 5pm, and John Emge, witnessed a woman he recognised holding a can of lager and a shopping bag near the property.
Mr Emge said he heard a loud bang and that Wardrobe told him there was a fire, so he rang 999. Another neighbour, Ralph Starkey, was awoken by Wardrobe banging on his window, and heard a loud bang.
He said Wardrobe was carrying a bag full of cider cans and he recognised her from going in and out of Mr Riley’s flat. Police arrived to find Wardrobe standing outside the flat with burn marks in her hair.
Mr Beesley said officers could tell Wardrobe had been drinking as they could smell alcohol on her. During the trial, fire officer Michael Foster said the loud bang heard was caused by an air freshener plugged into the wall which had exploded because of the fire.
It was determined that Wardrobe set fire to the curtains inside Mr Riley’s flat from outside through an open window. Mr Foster said the curtains could not have been set alight accidentally by a grazing flame such as a cigarette being lit, but that the flame must have been held against the curtain for some seconds at least.
During the blaze, the curtains fell off their rail onto the television below, but did not spread further, however there was significant smoke damage. A victim personal statement given by Mr Riley was read by the prosecution, and said he was worried about what Wardrobe would do on release.
He said: “I was lucky to not have been in the flat when the fire took place. “This has had a huge impact on my life.
“It has messed up my head, she knows where I live, I feel vulnerable.” Wardrobe has five previous convictions for five offences, including criminal damage in 2020 and possession of a blade in 2021.
She has been in custody since the incident. Judge David Swinnerton said Wardrobe was diagnosed with bipolar disorder or emotionally unstable personality disorder by her doctor, and that she has developed mental and behavioural disorders through the use of alcohol.
He also detailed that Wardrobe has acted aggressively towards hospital staff, including being verbally and racially abusive. In sentencing, Judge Swinnerton addressed Wardrobe in her absence, as he ordered a copy of the transcript of proceedings to be sent to her in prison.
Judge Swinnerton said: “Neighbours above and to the side of the flats were in, this was a danger to them. Those neighbours were able to get out of their flats and ring the fire brigade because they heard a bang.
“Police arrived to find you still there and still drunk.” He added: “You have done nothing to address or acknowledge what you did.”
Wardrobe was sentenced to four years imprisonment plus an extended licence of four years, as Judge Swinnerton determined she was a danger to society and posed a risk of committing further specified offences.
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