A drink-fuelled arsonist has been jailed after she put the lives of her neighbours at risk when she sparked a huge inferno at her own home in Whitley Bay.
Abigail Turnbull, 28, ignited three separate fires at her address on Wallridge Drive in the early hours of April 17 while she was under the influence of alcohol and drugs.
The fires erupted into a massive blaze shortly after 4.30am and a young family nearby, awoken by the smoke alarm, were forced to evacuate their home after seeing the thick smoke.
When emergency services arrived they found Turnbull sat on the doorstep in a state of “confusion” at the blaze, which caused £20,000 worth of damage.
She was taken to hospital for suspected smoke inhalation and was later arrested by police, where in an interview she admitted starting the fires.
She claimed that during her intoxication she thought “people were inside her address” and that she wanted to “scare them away”.
Turnbull pleaded guilty to arson being reckless to whether life would be endangered when she appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on May 18.
And on Wednesday she was sentenced to 30 months in prison.
In a statement prepared for court, a neighbour who was forced to evacuate admitted the family were “scared and frightened”.
They said: “I had nothing but problems to me and my family since Abi moved in three years ago. She would make excessive noise in her house playing music in the early hours and doors slamming.
“Since the fire, my child has been clearly affected and is frightened ‘the nasty lady’ is going to come back.”
Detective Constable Suzanne Davies, who led the investigation, said: “Abigail Turnbull’s decision to start the fire put not only her own life in danger, but the lives of all her neighbours who were fast asleep.
“This so easily could have resulted in a fatality or very serious injury, and she is incredibly lucky that she is not facing more severe punishment.
“There is absolutely no place for this type of behaviour in our communities, and I am pleased that the severity of her crime has been recognised with this custodial sentence.
“A home should be your safe haven – and I know the events of that night will live long in the memory of her neighbours who were understandably terrified by what happened.
“I sincerely hope that this time behind bars offers Turnbull the chance to reflect on how her actions can adversely affect others.”
Turnbull will not return to her former home once her sentence has been served.
