PREVIEW

A doorbell camera captured the moment a former nurse tried to set her neighbour’s home alight by throwing lit matches at the front door while the family slept inside.
Magdaline Wangeci attempted to start the fire at a house in Ashford, Kent, in what a court heard was a “revenge attack” following “antagonistic behaviour” between the women.
The 49-year-old targeted the home of Jennifer Young during the early hours of October 3, but heavy rain meant the matches landed on a soaking wet doormat and failed to ignite.
No damage was caused and nobody was injured.
Wangeci was arrested and charged with attempted arson, admitting the offence when she appeared at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court later that month.
She returned to the court on January 14 for sentencing after probation reports were prepared.
Prosecutor Neil Sweeney told magistrates: “She lit three matches and threw them towards the front door.
“Ms Young and her family were asleep in the home.
“The matches landed on the doormat, which was soaking wet [because it had rained], and the fire was avoided.
“It was caught on Ring doorbell footage.”
Explaining the background to the incident, he said: “There had been a build-up - there was some antagonistic behaviour between the parties in the run-up to this incident.
“It was a revenge attack. She went there with matches with the intent to light them, and lit three matches.
“There could have been catastrophic damage and risk of injury to those individuals (inside the home).”
The court heard Wangeci had no previous convictions, but the prosecution applied for a restraining order to prevent her from contacting next-door neighbour Ms Young or going near her home.
A probation officer told the court Wangeci suffers from mental health issues, including bipolar disorder, for which she is medicated.
She said that during periods when her mental health deteriorates, Wangeci has previously been admitted to St Martin's Hospital for 28 days.
Defending, Nigel Numas said his client was hoping to travel abroad for surgery.
“She would like to go, but that depends on her sentence. If she doesn’t have the operation, she will end up in a wheelchair,” he said.
He added the procedure was planned in Kenya because of long NHS waiting lists in the UK.
Explaining Wangeci’s actions, Mr Numas said: “She said she wanted to show them the fire because of what they did to her.
“It’s her mental health thought process; it doesn’t follow that of normal minds. There was no cognitive thinking.
“It isn’t really a revenge attack; there was no accelerant, it was not rational. She doesn’t always think in the correct manner.”
Magistrates were told Wangeci previously worked as a nurse and has about £30,000 of debt.
They also heard she had been in an abusive marriage, was no longer in contact with her daughter and is considered a vulnerable person.
The chairman of the bench said attempted arson is a serious offence that carries a potential prison sentence.
However, due to her previous good character and early guilty plea, the court decided the term could be suspended.
Wangeci was sentenced to four months in prison, suspended for 18 months.
A five-year restraining order was imposed banning her from contacting Ms Young or going near her home.
She was also ordered to pay £85 in court costs.