Woman jailed for starting house fires

A woman who started two fires within nine days at her terraced Worcestershire home has been jailed for six years.

At Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday, Judge Michael Mott described Sheila Breakwell as a "highly disturbed" woman who endangered neighbours and regularly committed crime.

He ordered that Breakwell, of East Street, Kidderminster should be regularly monitored on licence for four years after being released from prison.

The 46-year-old admitted arson and arson being reckless as to whether damage would be caused.

Previous convictions

The court heard the fire brigade was called to Breakwell's home on 4 September and 13 September last year.

On the first occasion, neighbours saw her setting fire to a wheelie bin at her back door at about 2300 BST.

The court also heard Breakwell had convictions dating back to 1991.

These included violence towards police and destroying property when she was arrested for throwing objects round the corridors of Kidderminster General Hospital.

Judge Mott said he had to pass a longer than normal sentence to protect the public from serious harm.