A JILTED girlfriend who took revenge on her former partner by setting light to his suits has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Jane Hunt

A JILTED girlfriend who took revenge on her former partner by setting light to his suits has avoided an immediate prison sentence.

Kim Eccott caused more than �25,000 damage to a flat above Jokers nightclub in Stowmarket after setting light to her former boyfriend's clothes with a cigarette, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

Twenty-three-year-old Eccott became upset when Mark Naylor, who was the manager of Jokers, told her that their relationship was over and asked her to move out of his two-bedroom flat.

Eccott had responded by cutting her face and pleading with him for one last chance, said David Wilson, prosecuting.

Mr Naylor told her that wasn't possible and while he took her suitcases downstairs Eccott had set light to his clothes.

As a result of the fire a number of Mr Naylor's possessions including clothing were destroyed as well as items belonging to his son Jason Naylor, said Mr Wilson.

Damage to the flat had been estimated at �25,000.

Eccott, of Stevenage, admitted three offences of arson on March 9 and was given a 52 week jail sentence suspended for two years with a two year supervision order.

Sentencing her, Judge Peter Fenn said that after reading psychiatric and probation reports on Eccott he felt she was more in need of help than punishment.

He said he accepted that she hadn't intended to cause the amount of damage that had been caused by the fire.

Shereen Dyer, for Eccott, said she had no previous convictions.

“This was an impulsive action carried out without any thought of the consequences,” said Miss Dyer.

“It would have been better to have cut up his suits rather than setting light to them,” she added.