Drunk woman is jailed for 21 months for trying to burn down her friend's flat after falsely accusing her of 'stealing' her boyfriend

  • Hannah Ridgley, 30, told her neighbour that she was going to 'f****** stab her'
  • She added: 'I am going to burn your flat and I am going to burn everyone else' 
  • Neighbour Margaret Russell returned to find her flat on fire with £1,000 damage
  • Ridgley sentenced to 21 months at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester
A woman who tried to burn down a friend's flat after she falsely accused her of 'stealing' her boyfriend has been jailed for 21 months.
Hannah Ridgley, 30, told her neighbour Margaret Russell she was going to 'f****** stab' her, adding, 'I am going to burn your flat and I am going to burn everyone else.'
Miss Russell, who lived on the floor below Ridgley in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, tried to calm her but was told: 'I'm gonna stab every girl who took my boyfriend, including you.'
Shortly afterwards while the victim was out, Ridgley set fire to the flat and caused £1,000 worth of damage including damage to the sofa, carpet and curtain which had partly melted.
Hannah Ridgley, 30, (pictured) told her neighbour Margaret Russell she was going to 'f****** stab' her, adding, 'I am going to burn your flat and I am going to burn everyone else'
Hannah Ridgley, 30, (pictured) told her neighbour Margaret Russell she was going to 'f****** stab' her, adding, 'I am going to burn your flat and I am going to burn everyone else'
The fire service and police were called and no one living in the three-storey block of flats in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, was injured.
In a statement Miss Russell told police: 'I feel numb. I am not perfect but I have done nothing to deserve this. I have helped Hannah a few times in the past when she had trouble and this is how she treats me.
'I feel angry and frustrated, but I am not sure exactly how I feel about it. I have not felt safe in my own home and have been staying with my mother, which I should not have had to do. 
Ridgley (pictured) has now been sentenced to 21 months in prison
Ridgley (pictured) has now been sentenced to 21 months in prison 
'I stayed with her for two weeks and slept on the sofa as there is no room for another resident. I have not lived with my mother for a very long time.'
At Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Ridgley, of Prestwich, Bury, admitted arson. 
Prosecutor Rachel Widdecombe said: 'Margaret Russell lived in the same three-storey block of flats as the defendant. The victim lived on the top floor and the perpetrator on the floor below.
'Before this incident they got on well. The victim helped her when she fell out with her partner and they had occasionally had drinks together.
'On May 4 this year the victim was in her flat getting ready to visit her mother when she heard a loud bang at the front door. She opened it and the defendant barged into her flat carrying a blue carrier bag with leaves in it.
'The defendant appeared to have taken something and was slurring her words with her eyes rolling. She stated staggering about and she shouted that she was pulling leaves from the bushes.
'The defendant offered her victim a cigarette which was refused and said she didn't want the defendant in her flat.
'The defendant shouted ''what are you shaking for?'' and then exploded. 
'She shouted ''I'm going to stab every girl that took my boyfriend, especially you.'' 
'She carried on shouting saying she was going to stab her victim and everyone else.
Sentencing Judge Tina Landale told Ridgley at Minshull Street Crown Court (pictured): 'Your behaviour put many people at risk. You had a friendship with your victim which you abused when you drunkenly set fire to her flat
Sentencing Judge Tina Landale told Ridgley at Minshull Street Crown Court (pictured): 'Your behaviour put many people at risk. You had a friendship with your victim which you abused when you drunkenly set fire to her flat
'She shouted ''I am going to f****** stab you, I am going to burn your flat and I am going to burn everyone else.''
'At the time the victim didn't think much of the threats and asked the defendant if she needed help but was told, ''f*** off I want to be on my own.''
'The victim bolted her door and finished getting ready. She left after 10 minutes and went downstairs where she heard more banging.

Miss Russell, who lived on the floor below Ridgley (pictured) in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, tried to calm her but was told: 'I'm gonna stab every girl who took my boyfriend, including you'
Pictured is Hannah Ridgley
Miss Russell, who lived on the floor below Ridgley (pictured) in Radcliffe, Greater Manchester, tried to calm her but was told: 'I'm gonna stab every girl who took my boyfriend, including you'
'She thought it would be the defendant and looked outside. She asked the defendant if she had lost her keys and was told ''he has been at yours before, I'm not a noodle.''
'The victim continued walking and the defendant kept on shouting that she was going to burn her. Another resident saw the defendant and said she appeared drunk. She told the resident she could not get into the flat and was locked out.
'He heard the defendant shout ''I will burn the place down Maggie is not a friend of mine''. A fire alarm then sounded and the fire service and police were called.
'The victim had been gone for about half an hour and heard the fire alarm when she got to the front door. The defendant was coming out of the flat with another resident, an elderly woman shouting ''fire, fire''. She then went upstairs and found it was her flat on fire.
'Police arrived and concluded after an investigation which found it had not been an accidental fire. The corner of the lounge between the sofa, window and kitchen was damaged- as was the carpet and side of the sofa. Part of the curtain had melted and material had fallen to the floor.
'No ignitable fluid was found but the fire was started deliberately by a naked flame being used on combustible materials. It is estimated the damage will cost around £1,000 to replace.'
Shortly afterwards while the victim was out, Ridgley (pictured) set fire to the flat and caused £1,000 worth of damage including damage to the sofa, carpet and curtain which had partly melted
Shortly afterwards while the victim was out, Ridgley (pictured) set fire to the flat and caused £1,000 worth of damage including damage to the sofa, carpet and curtain which had partly melted
Ridgley gave no comment in police interview. Her lawyer Gwen Henshaw said: 'She intended only to cause drama not hurt and was shocked the fire escalated so quickly.
'She recognises this was a mean and potentially very, very dangerous offence.' 
Sentencing Judge Tina Landale told Ridgley: 'Your behaviour put many people at risk. You had a friendship with your victim which you abused when you drunkenly set fire to her flat. Thankfully no one was injured but that was not due to you but the prompt attendance of the fire service and police.
'I accept you had a difficult upbringing and have mental health problems, but you pose a high risk of serious harm to the general public.
'I am sure only an immediate custodial sentence can be justified because of the risk you pose which is high. 
'You cannot be managed in the community because even now you are still drinking significantly despite what happened at that flat when you set fire to it.'

2 comments:

  1. Whose fault?
    The arsonist for not providing enough sex?
    The "victim"for needing more sex?
    Or "Society" for not allowing sex with more than one person?

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is the perfect female to run for mayor or governor She would get elected in a landslide all the people who live their lives off the feelz.

    ReplyDelete

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