An incident in Ashford, Kent, left many residents disturbed after security cameras recorded a woman attempting to start a fire at her neighbour’s home while a family was asleep inside.
The act, which happened late at night, raised serious concerns about safety and the possible loss of life if the fire had spread.
The woman involved was identified as 49-year-old Magdaline Wangeci, a Kenyan national living in the United Kingdom. CCTV footage presented in court showed her standing outside the house of her neighbour, Jennifer Young.
In the video, Wangeci can be seen striking matches and throwing them at the front door of the home.
At the time, the family inside the house was asleep and unaware of what was happening outside.
Fortunately, heavy rain had soaked the doormat and the area around the door. Because of this, the matches went out almost immediately and no flames developed.
The house was not damaged, and no one was injured. Police later reviewed the footage and began an investigation into the incident.
Prosecutors told Folkestone Magistrates’ Court that the act was not accidental. They said Wangeci’s actions were deliberate and linked to an ongoing disagreement with her neighbour.
The court was informed that the incident was a form of revenge after a long-running dispute between the two.
The prosecution explained that if the fire had caught on, the situation could have turned into a deadly tragedy.
Wangeci admitted to attempted arson when she appeared in court. During the hearing, details about her personal struggles were shared.
Her lawyer told the court that she suffers from bipolar disorder and other health problems. It was also revealed that she had been under a lot of pressure in her life, including financial difficulties, large debts, and family challenges.
These issues were said to have affected her mental state at the time of the offence.
Despite these explanations, the court made it clear that her actions were serious and dangerous.
Magistrates said that setting fire to a home where people were sleeping showed a high level of risk and could not be ignored, even though no damage occurred in this case.
The court sentenced Wangeci to four months in prison, but the sentence was suspended for 18 months.
This means she will not go to jail unless she commits another offence during that period. In addition, she was given a five-year restraining order that prevents her from contacting or approaching Jennifer Young or her family.
The court also ordered her to pay £85 in court costs.
The case has drawn attention to the importance of mental health support and the dangers of unresolved personal conflicts.
