A MENTALLY ill woman who started blazes at a neighbour's house three times, has been detained in hospital.

A judge sent Patricia Taylor, 36, to Ward 20 at Burnley General Hospital and told her the alternative would have been a long custodial sentence.

Recorder David Aubrey, QC, made the hospital order under the Mental Health Act, on the recommendation of three psychiatrists. He told Taylor she could have caused untold damage and he hoped she realised how serious what she had done was.

Taylor, then of Coates Avenue, Barnoldswick, but who has been in custody since last November, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and asked for two other offences to be taken into consideration.

Burnley Crown Court heard that last November 8, fire crews were called to a semi-detached council property owned by Pendle Borough Council in Coates Avenue. At that time, Taylor was living nearby.

Officers found a bag containing wood, cardboard and paper had been placed against the door and the contents set alight. The door was damaged, but the fire was put out before any further damage was done. A neighbour told police he had seen the defendant in the street, asked what was going on and saw her disappear rapidly into her own home. The neighbour then spotted Taylor in the street again, coming from the smoking area, carrying a container.

Police arrested her. She was interviewed, denied starting the fire, but later admitted she started it. She said she never intended anybody any harm and added she had taken water in the container to put it out.

The court was told the occupant, John Wallford was at home and had the blaze spread, he risked being injured. Two other fires had been started at a house nearby the previous month.

On October 18, the door was extensively damaged and the property smoke damaged.

Four days later, the fire brigade was called to the same address which had been rendered uninhabitable by the previous fire. Taylor was on probation when the offences occurred.

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