A Hove woman who tried to set fire to a family home with two young children inside has been jailed.
At 6.35pm on Tuesday, May 11, Talisa Windsor, 30, of Amberley Drive in Hove, was caught on CCTV pouring 3.7 litres of petrol around the front door of a property in Moyne Close, Hove.
Windsor had stolen the petrol from a nearby station and had attempted to ignite it by filling a broken bottle with petrol and a tissue and throwing it at the door.
When it didn't ignite, she tried to throw a brick through the front window.
Members of the public phoned police when they smelled petrol, after which Windsor was arrested.
CCTV captured Windsor stealing the petrol and attempting to ignite it at the house.
Police later discovered Windsor had sent a number of threatening messages to the occupants, who were known to her, in the days leading up to the incident - including several death threats.
She was charged with attempted arson with intent to endanger life and remanded in custody.
In October she was found guilty of attempted arson reckless as to endangering life and at Chichester Crown Court on Friday (February 18) she was sentenced to six years, including a further three on extended licence,
Investigating officer DC Rose Horan said:
“This was an extremely disturbing incident which threatened the lives of a family with two young children, who were inside the house when Talisa Windsor attempted to set it alight.
“CCTV showed that the cigarette lighter did ignite, so it was extremely lucky that the 3.7L of petrol around the front door did not go up in flames. Had that happened, we could have been looking at a tragic outcome.
“Nonetheless, his Honour Judge Trimmer found Windsor met the criteria for a dangerous offender and passed an extended sentence.
“I would like to thank the victims, witnesses and everybody who supported the investigation for their help in bringing a dangerous individual to justice.”
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