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06
Oct
Boroughbridge arson attack: Woman ‘devastated the lives of three innocent people’
Police have said a woman who destroyed three Boroughbridge homes in a vengeful arson attack has "devastated the lives of three innocent people".
Stacey Hinks, 34, was today (October 6) jailed after setting fire to her ex-boyfriend's house, which spread to and gutted two neighbouring properties.
Hinks claimed she became “frustrated” after not being able to contact her boyfriend and, in a drink-and-drug-fuelled-rage, set fire to a cushion inside his house at about 11pm on May 15.
But the prosecution rubbished this claim due to the extent of the blaze.
Fire spread to the roof, caused it to collapse onto two bungalows either side of the man’s house, setting the two bungalows alight – causing around £200,000 of damage to the homes.
Fire crews from Ripon, Knaresborough, Harrogate, Acomb and Thirsk were called to tackle the blaze.
Hinks pleaded guilty to arson and being reckless as to whether life would be endangered in June and was sentenced at York Crown Court.
Judge Sean Morrison, the Recorder of York, ordered Hinks to spend four years and 10 months behind bars.
Following sentencing, North Yorkshire Police's detective constable Karen Everitt, who led the investigation, said:
Hinks devastated the lives of three innocent people. Her ex-partner and his neighbours lost everything, their homes, their belongings, and precious memories. The emotional toll has been immense.
Thanks to the quick and brave actions of nearby residents, an elderly woman was safely evacuated, and the two other residents were confirmed not to be home at the time. Had things been different, the consequences could have been far more tragic.
Hinks showed complete disregard for the safety of others. I’m pleased she eventually admitted her guilt and is now behind bars, where she belongs.
Emergency services at the scene on Springfield Grove in Boroughbridge. Photo: Michael Lambert.
“I have never felt fear like that'
In a statement, Hinks’ ex-boyfriend said he has since been forced to live between hostels and temporary accommodation after his house was destroyed in the fire.
“I literally have the clothes on my back; everything else is destroyed”, he added.
An elderly female neighbour whose home went up in flames said she had “lost everything”, including mementos of her late husband.
The woman was not home at the time of the blaze, but the court heard she watched her home become engulfed by flames through a security camera.
Another neighbour, a woman in her 90s, said the incident has caused her to become frail, leading her to need sleeping tablets and therapy.
“I have never felt fear like that and I hope I never will again”, the court heard.
Hinks, who is of no fixed address but is from Boroughbridge, had 34 previous offences on her record. These include assaulting emergency workers, racially aggravated public disorder, damaging property, drug-driving and breaching court orders.
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