A WOMAN has been jailed for 20 months for starting a series of fires with a lighter and a can of deodorant when support workers and paramedics were in her home. 

Janet Boocock, 21, caused £1,500 at the address in Copley Street, Little Horton, Bradford, on January 15. 

She was remanded in HMP New Hall following her arrest and pleaded guilty to reckless arson at the first opportunity. 

Bradford Crown Court heard today that she told two support workers who had attended her address that she had just been to hospital and thought she was having a seizure. 

Prosecutor Peter Byrne said an ambulance was called but then she changed her story about having been to hospital and became aggressive when they declined to take her there. 

She used a lighter and a can of deodorant to start ‘massive flames’ and then lit a series of small fires at the property owned by Concept Housing. 

Paramedics doused the flames with an extinguisher and left the building. But Boocock followed them outside and turned the aerosol can and lighter towards one of them. 

She then started a fire in the front room by lighting paper and putting it on the carpet. 

A window was smashed to gain entry to the address and the extinguisher used to put out the blaze. 

Damage to the carpet, window and curtains came to £1,500, Mr Byrne said. 

Boocock made no comment when she was questioned by the police. 

The court heard that there had been issues about her fitness to plead. 

She had previous convictions for arson, criminal damage and threatening to destroy property. One of the arsons involved her setting fire to a Council bin bag in Bradford city centre.  

Olivia Fraser, Boocock’s barrister, said that probation and psychiatric reports had been prepared ahead of the sentencing hearing.  

Boocock had been in custody since the offence, the longest period she had spent locked up.  

Miss Fraser said the fires were small and Boocock was only intending to harm herself. 

Judge Jonathan Gibson said she had behaved in a similar way before.  

Even though the fires were quickly extinguished, she not only put herself at risk but the mental health workers and ambulance personnel that were present. 

There was clearly a significant risk of harm and £1,500 of damage was caused. 

Judge Gibson took into consideration the psychological effect on the professionals trying to help Boocock when she started the fires.