Suicidal mum high on drugs tried to torch own Leeds home with daughters inside
A mum tried to start a fire in her own home to kill herself, while her daughters were also still in the house.
Kirsty Ingram argued with her daughters over her addiction before trying to set fire to items in her bedroom.
The 38-year-old was given a community order at Leeds Crown Court, having spent time on remand.
The court heard she had two daughters living with her at the Edinburgh Terrace home in Armley last year.
Having gone on a drug-taking bender for “days”, she returned home on July 17 but they were “resentful” for her having “gone of the rails again”, prosecutor Carmel Pearson told the court.
Following an argument, she became irate and set fire to the items. She began screaming that her daughters needed to get out because she had started the fire and was then planning on hanging herself.
The daughters were able to put the flames out with water.
The emergency services were called and Ingram was arrested.
She admitted a charge of arson. She has one previous conviction for assault of an emergency worker.
Mitigating, Paul Walker said Ingram needed “structured help”.
He said since being held on remand she is on a recovery wing, having come off drugs.
He said she was a mentor for other prisoners and described her as being “effectively a model prisoner” herself.
Judge Andrew Stubbs KC told Ingram: “It’s really sad to see you before the court.
“We both know what’s brought you here, it’s a terrible addiction to drugs.
“You were preyed upon and became addicted. You lost all sense of what was right and proper.”
He gave her the 12-month community order and ordered her to complete 20 rehabilitation days.