Woman sentenced after starting a fire in her house (From Prestwich and Whitefield Guide)

Woman sentenced after starting a fire in her house

3:38pm Thursday 28th February 2013 in News

A woman has been sentenced after she started a fire in her house in Ramsbottom.

Ann Julie Nadin, aged 54, of Cemetery Road, pleaded guilty at Bolton Crown Court to arson with intent to endanger life.

She was sentenced to four years in prison today.

Nadin had previously started a fire in her house on 1 June 2012, and on Tuesday 13 November 2013 she tried again, this time removing the smoke detectors the fire service especially installed for her.

She set fire to an armchair in the front room, and then barricaded herself in her utility room, having taken off the door handles.

A neighbour tried to get inside the house to save her but it was too dangerous, although fire officers did manage to get Nadin out safely a short time later.

The fire-fighters then had to put the blaze out. The fire had destroyed the chair, badly damaged the living room and caused smoke damage to the house downstairs and into some rooms upstairs.

The living room window had shattered and the window frame was destroyed.

Nadin herself suffered from serious smoke inhalation.

Detective Constable Lindsey Worrall said: “This arson may have been an attempt of Nadin’s to take her own life, but her actions were reckless and misguided.

“The neighbour who tried to help put himself in danger and so too did the fire-fighters who put their lives on the line for people who come to harm.

“Furthermore, there are seven terraced houses on this stretch, meaning that the fire damage endangered other householders.”