PHOTOS: Crawley Woman Jailed For Brighton Arson Attacks

Friday, 22 April 2022 07:15

By Jade McLean

A woman from Crawley who repeatedly dialled 999 to report fires she had started herself has been jailed.

Amy Winter, 42, of Trefoil Crescent in Crawley, forced police, firefighters and paramedics to an address in Surrey Street, Brighton, on Christmas Eve in 2020, where they were threatened and assaulted.

The first call was placed at 2.45pm to East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, to whom Winter claimed there was a fire at the Surrey Street flat and she was struggling to breathe.

Firefighters attended the address and extinguished the fire.

Then at around 3.20pm she made another call to 999, which was responded to by police officers and paramedics who turned up to find her with a head injury. When they tried to help her she became 'threatening and abusive'.

A mental health officer was called to assess her and she calmed down and police left the scene.

While paramedics remained at the scene filling in paperwork, fire engines arrived having been called again by Winter.

They found bedding on fire inside the flat, which they extinguished. As they were leaving they saw flames coming from an internal window.

Forcing open the locked door, they found a bed alight and Winter feigning unconsciousness on the floor.

Police returned and she was arrested on suspicion of arson with recklessness as to endanger life and subsequently charged.

At Lewes Crown Court on Monday (April 11) she was sentenced to 28 months imprisonment after pleading guilty.

Investigator Rose Horan said:

“Amy Winter’s reckless behaviour endangered the lives of her neighbours, firefighters and the wider public. She deliberately started fires and was aggressive towards members of the emergency services.

“All of the police officers, paramedics and firefighters who attended on Christmas Eve displayed incredible patience with her.

“This custodial sentence should send a message to her and others not to waste the valuable time and resources of the emergency services."