A fire hero has been commended after he entered a burning house and saved the life of a young woman inside.
Today at Mold Crown Court it emerged that 21-year-old trainee veterinary nurse Lauren Edwards was so depressed that she started the fire in a bid to take her own life.
She had fallen into a “dark and dangerous place” after the break-up of a relationship and other issues, and had taken vodka.
Edwards was jailed for two years after she admitted arson and being reckless whether life would be endangered, at the home she shared with her mother and brother.
Judge Geraint Walters publicly commended the public spirited actions of Wayne Brown who happened to be passing the house in Phillips Road, Gwersyllt , near Wrexham on the morning of March 3 and heard the sound of a smoke alarm.
After seeing smoke billowing out of the property, he rushed inside through the back door and found Edwards unconscious on the sofa of the living room.
He roused Miss Edwards, got her out and put a coat around her and also raised the alarm.
'Saved your life'
Judge Walters told Edwards: “He (Mr Brown) was passing your home by chance, heard the smoke alarm, entered tour property and in large measure saved your life.”
The court heard after Mr Brown had rescued Edwards, she was taken to a nearby house as fire fighters, paramedics and police arrived at the scene.
She admitted starting the fire in the duvet in her bedroom with a lighter.
She had drunk half a bottle of vodka and started the fire when her mother and brother were out at work.
The house, particularly the bedroom, had suffered substantial damage which cost £12,000 to repair.
Henry Hills, defending, said his client was a young woman of previous good character who had been clinically depressed at the time.
“She was at the time in a particularly dark and dangerous place,
“But she wanted to end her life,” he said, and decided to do it by smoke inhalation.
She was genuinely remorseful, had admitted what she had done, and was positively accepting assistance while in custody.
Judge Walters said she was a young woman of positive good character who loved animals and who wanted to make a life for herself caring for them.
Testimonials made clear that she was a “very caring, responsible and kindly” person, who had suffered quietly with depression for a considerable period of time.
'Back on track'
That had been caused by a break up of a relationship and some unhappiness from time to time, the judge said.
She turned to drink and after drinking vodka that morning acted in a way which was totally out of character.
Judge Walters said that he entirely accepted that she had not intended to injure anyone else.
“You even thought about the fact that you did not want to burn but wanted to be overcome by smoke inhalation,” he said.
“That was your motive and none other.”
The judge said that Edwards’ pre-sentence report was “hugely impressive “ and rarely had he seen anyone so prepared to take advantage of everything that was on offer to her in custody.
“You have decided that by the time you are released that you want to put your life back on track.”
Because arson was such a serious charge, Judge Walters said it had to be dealt with a custodial sentence.
However, he agreed to reduce the sentence he would otherwise have in mind because of her particular circumstances.
see-http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/wrexham-woman-who-started-fire-11312494
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