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Bristol Post
Bristol Post
National
Geoffrey Bennett

Woman admits setting fire to Bristol refugee drop-in centre

An unwell Barton Hill woman torched a refugee drop-in centre in Bristol for no clear reason.

Felicia Leigh set fire to the Assisi Centre in Lawfords Gate in January last year, Bristol Crown Court heard.

And 10 minutes afterwards she threw a rock through a window at Lawrence Hill Health Centre.

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Leigh, 29, of Beaconsfield Close, pleaded guilty to arson and damaging property.

After hearing psychiatric evidence, Judge Martin Picton handed her an indefinite Hospital Order under the Mental Health Act.

The judge said: "The defendant was persistent and determined in trying to ensure the fire got going, using accelerant.

"There was no logic to it.

"She had no connection to the building.

"There was no real logic of any kind."

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Emily Evans, prosecuting, said people linked to the premises noticed smoke and called the fire service.

It was established that the fire had been started deliberately and damage of £25,000 was caused.

The smashed window at the health centre cost £1,000 to repair, the court heard.

Leigh made no comment when interviewed.

A psychiatrist confirmed Leigh was a diagnosed schizophrenic.

She said doctors had been unable to understand why she did what she did.

It was concluded that mental illness was the driver for her being a risk to others.

Catherine Spedding, defending, said her client had not caused serious harm to the public and could be supervised in the community.

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