5 days ago
Woman claimed she was 'on toilet' when really she was setting fire to own shed
A MIDDLEWICH woman set alight her garden shed before it spread to her house, a court has heard.
Kimberley Trelfa was responsible for the fire on Falcon Close in the early evening of March 16, 2024.
Chester Crown Court has heard how the then 36-year-old set alight her own garden shed while she was suffering with a mental health issue.
Prosecuting, Anna Price said it spread to her own house in spite of the attendance of firefighters from Middlewich, Northwich and Winsford.
There was thousands of pounds of damage done to the garden as well as to the ground floor walls and windows.
Trelfa told one neighbour it was her ex-partner and told another neighbour 'I do not know what has happened'.
Ms Price said: "[In interview] the defendant relied on a prepared statement in which she said she was on the toilet when she smelled smoke."
Trelfa, now of Coronation Road, admitted arson earlier this year after previously pleading not guilty to arson with recklessness as to whether life was endangered last year.
Mitigating, David Thomson said he had nothing to add after Judge Steven Everett, the Honorary Recorder of Chester, said he would sentence her to a community order.
Judge Everett said: "It could have been a lot worse but fortunately for you and fortunately for everybody else it was not.
"The issues I have heard about your background, your learning disabilities, and your mental health are all factors."
Trelfa was sentenced to an 18-month community order with a requirement to do 30 days of rehabilitation activities.
The Honorary Recorder of Chester said it was not so much a punishment as an opportunity for her to 'move forward'.
Judge Everett said: "If you were to breach the order you would have to come back to court but I am rather hoping that will not happen."
