Rebecca Hewlett, pictured, set fire to Michael Wall’s mattress then took prescriptions pills as the flames took hold
A jilted mother of one who torched her ex-boyfriend’s flat then took a drug overdose as she watched it burning has been jailed for four-and-a-half years.
Rebecca Hewlett, 23, set fire to Michael Wall’s mattress then took prescription pills as the flames took hold after the couple split up.
Neighbours raised the alarm after spotting smoke coming from the property in Monsall, Greater Manchester, and attempted to get in before calling the fire service.
Hewlett herself dialled 999 saying she had taken an overdose and needed an ambulance.
After arriving on the scene emergency services found two mattresses burning and other items under the bed on fire.
Mr Wall, 27, who was out at the time of the blaze returned to his flat to discover it had sustained £4,000 worth of damage.
Police inquiries revealed Hewlett, of nearby Sale, had been bailed just nine days before the blaze after vandalising Mr Wall’s property causing £1,000 of damage.
She claimed she lit the fire last June because she ‘felt helpless’. Mr Wall has since said he wants to rekindle their relationship.
At Manchester Crown Court, Hewlett sobbed and gestured a heart with her hands to her family in the public gallery as she led away to the cells after admitted arson.
The judge Mr Justice William Davies told her: ‘Arson is very serious offence indeed. It can very quickly develop to something that is out of control, and of course you did not intend to harm anyone.
Hewlett claimed she lit the fire last June because she ‘felt helpless’. Mr Wall has since said he wants to rekindle their relationship
‘But you were putting others’ lives at risk and you did not really care about that.
‘People can die from smoke inhalation relatively quickly from fires that don’t seem to be that serious at all but in fact they are.
‘Mr Wall’s flat was wrecked by the damage from the fire and he lost items of property.’
Hewlett was first held for criminal damage after she smashed various windows at the victim’s apartment.
She was bailed on the condition that she stayed away from the flat but she turned up nine days later whilst Mr Wall was out for the evening.
Brian Berlyne, prosecuting, said: ‘After receiving a call from a neighbour regarding the fire, the police received a call from Miss Hewlett.
‘She said that she had taken an overdose, gave her location in the middle of Manchester and requested an ambulance.
‘She added that she had set fire to a mattress and items of bedding at her ex-partners address around 20 minutes ago.
Hewlett was bailed on the condition that she stayed away from the flat but she turned up nine days later whilst Mr Wall was out for the evening
‘The fire service attended and found damage to the flat, two mattresses burning and other items under the bed on fire.
‘The defendant was not arrested immediately and she was taken to hospital.
‘Damage caused to the property of Mr Wall was £4,000 as a result of the fire and £729 to the housing association for the damage to the flat.
‘Mr Wall has since expressed that he may wish to resume his relationship with Hewlett when she is released from custody, and no longer supported the prosecution.’
Hewlett admitted that she had sat and watched the fire burn for a while before leaving and taking an overdose of medication that she had taken from Mr Wall’s property.
In mitigation, defence lawyer Clare Ashcroft said her client had ‘no desire’ to get back in a relationship with Mr Wall after their on off relationship ended in disaster.
At Manchester Crown Court, pictured, Hewlett was sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail (stock photo)
Ms Ashcroft added: ‘She suffers from a emotional personality disorder which has only been diagnosed as part of the psychological report.
‘She had been in a domestic violence relationship prior to being with Mr Wall, she was subjected to violence when she was pregnant and after the pregnancy. Essentially she was on the streets when she met the defendant and he took her in.
‘She claims the relationship was very on and off and there was volatility. They both thought that they were helping each other but in reality that is not the case.
‘On the day in question the defendant felt helpless and didn’t know what to do, so thought to end her life because she had got herself in a terrible situation.
‘On reflection she is insightful enough to acknowledge the relationship she had was ultimately destructive.
‘If any good has come out of this situation it is that she now has the support of her family and familial ties back.
‘Fortunately there was not a serious injury caused by her actions.’
Hewlett will serve half of her sentence in custody and the remaining half on license.