Woman who started flat fire ruled a victim. Abuse and lack of support led to crime, judge says.
A joiner changed locks at her flat beforehand. Neighbors heard her shouting on the phone; she spoke to the council. Residents had to leave their homes and stayed elsewhere for a bit. Luckily, no one got hurt in the fire, but the damage cost about £7,668 to repair.
The judge gave her a community order, stating she was a crime victim. Saleem met her abuser in 1999, who groomed her with drugs and alcohol. She got pregnant at age 15, and the abuse lasted 17 years.
She developed mental health issues and also became addicted to drugs. The judge noted a lack of support; she lived far from family and they advised against therapy for her abuse.
The judge hoped things would change and mentioned revised guidelines for crime victims. The state had a long history of failure, he added. Katy Laverty was prosecuting the case. Saleem argued with the council and said she would smash her flat and set fire.
Emergency services arrived at the scene. Fire investigators said it was arson. Saleem admitted to being angry, as the council asked her to pay £130 but she did not have proper flat access. She admitted using heroin and crack cocaine.
Judge MacAdam said it troubled the tenants a lot, as well as the local council. Her lawyer, Nick Ross, discussed her mental health and stated she wants to have a normal life again. Saleem admitted her actions in court, pleading guilty to reckless arson.
The judge gave her a community order and also 20 days of rehab. The judge linked the crime with her mental health and blamed the state’s lack of support. He believed better care could have prevented the event.