A Glenorchy woman who ‘recklessly’ burnt down her house after setting a couch on fire has avoided prison.
Stephanie Oakford, 37, admitted to igniting the blaze that led to the destruction of her Housing Tasmania home on 18 June 2020.
In the Supreme Court on Tuesday, Oakford pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawfully setting fire to property after setting her house on fire following an upsetting phone call.
The court heard how, using a cigarette lighter, she ignited a couch cushion multiple times, leaving her partner with minor injuries caused by extinguishing the flames.
Her partner then left the house and called emergency services, while Oakford again set fire to the couch, which rapidly spread and ultimately destroyed the home.
Housing Tasmania were left with a bill of $216,840.00, while her parter lost between $5,000 – $10,000 in property as a result of the fire.
A pet dog was also killed.
Justice Stephen Estcourt, in his remarks about the sentence, took into account Oakford’s mental health struggles.
He imposed a six-month suspended imprisonment sentence, considering her difficult circumstances and the balance of accountability.
“She has a longstanding diagnosis of borderline personality disorder. She also has been diagnosed at various times with mild neurocognitive disorder and other diagnoses including post-traumatic stress disorder and various forms of substance use disorder,” Estcourt said.
“The State’s position is that the defendant deliberately set fire to the cushion of the couch but the State accepts that the defendant did not foresee or intend for the house to catch fire and be destroyed.”
Justice Estcourt said Oakford made moves to extinguish the fire but was overcome with panic as the fire took hold.
“I am satisfied that she did not foresee the couch catching fire uncontrollably or that the house would catch fire.”
He sentenced Oakford to six months imprisonment, which was wholly suspend on condition that the she does not commit an offence punishable by imprisonment for one year.
