A HOME help who turned on a 90-year-old man during a drink and drugs binge, leaving him with scars across the top of his head, has been jailed.

Victim Edwin Cramp was also left concerned after Gina King, 46, had started at least two fires in his sheltered flat while she tried to light her cigarette with pieces of burning newspaper, Burnley Crown Court was told.

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King, 46, of Edgar Street, Accrington, who admitted to assaulting Mr Cramp and arson, has previous convictions for prostitution and shoplifting.

Prosecutor Stephen Parker said Mr Cramp, who lived in Stopford Close, Clayton-le-Moors, had known King for around 10 years and considered her a friend.

King would often borrow money from him and in return she would carry out chores around the house. But she would often use the money to buy drugs and alcohol, which he didn't agree with.

The court heard she had been staying with him in early February but he suspected she had been taking drugs.

Mr Parker said when Mr Cramp awoke on February 8 she was drinking wine and gin and he thought she may have taken drugs as her behaviour became more erratic, with her trying to light a cigarette with burning pieces of newspaper.

Mr Cramp, who struggles with his mobility, became really concerned when one of the pieces of paper caused a pile of magazines to catch fire.

He also became aware there might be a fire in the kitchen, where she had used the hob in a similar fashion.

"In the pandemonium she began to attack him, while he was sat in his chair, for no reason," said Mr Parker.

Smoke alarms at the property alerted a warden, who came to the flat as King left. Mr Cramp informed the warden of the attack and showed her cuts on the top of his head, the court heard.

King was arrested later but refused to comment. She pleaded guilty to the offences at a magistrates hearing and was committed for sentence.

Philip Holden, defending, said his client's criminal record reflected that of a heroin addict but she had proved she could remain offence-free for a number of years.

Jailing her, Judge Jonathan Gibson said: "This was a nasty assault and the arson was a dangerous act, albeit reckless."