Woman who set fire to Coventry house where mum and two children were sleeping is jailed

[dutchman]

A woman who stuffed her jacket into the letterbox of a Coventry house, where a mother and her two children were sleeping, and set light to it has been jailed



Kelly Masters had denied a charge of arson with intent to endanger lives, blaming another woman for the fire, but was found guilty after a trial at Warwick Crown Court.

And following an adjournment for reports to be prepared on her, a judge decided Masters (28) of Lapworth Road, Coventry, poses a danger to people in the future.

She was given an extended sentence of seven years in prison, of which she will have to serve at least two-thirds before the parole board can even consider her release.

If she is freed before serving the whole of the seven years, she will be on licence for the rest of the term and for an additional two years, recorder Alastair Smith ordered.

The court heard that in November 2015 Masters went to an address in Roselands Avenue, Coventry, late at night looking for her aunt, who was not there.

The woman who lived at the address suggested her aunt might be at another house in Roselands Avenue – and at 11.30pm they both went to try there.

But after getting no reply, possibly because it was so late, Masters took off her leather jacket and stuffed it into the letterbox before setting light to it.

She and the other woman, who had left the scene and then returned, then simply walked away.

Fortunately, a neighbour spotted the burning door and raised the alarm, and the woman who lived there was able to get herself and her two children, aged eight and six, out of the back door.

Masters did not give evidence during her trial, but the jury heard that when she was arrested she had tried to blame the woman who was with her for the arson attack.

Recorder Smith observed that the other woman had left Masters at the door, but had then returned and was told by Masters what she had done.

“Her response was to say ‘What are you doing? There are kids in there.’

“But both of you left the area. Neither of you made any attempt to contact the fire brigade.

“The jury were satisfied that not only had you started the fire, but that you intended to endanger the lives of those in that house.

“It is extremely fortunate a neighbour became aware of that fire and was able to alert the occupiers.

“The risk in setting fire to the main exit point of a domestic property must have been plain to you at the time.

“You have shown no acceptance or remorse or insight into your offence, and you have sought in your pre-sentence report, as in your interview, on the prosecution witness.”