A NURSE who set fire to a flat following a grievance with her son’s landlord has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Patricia Pemberton had set fire to the top-floor flat in a three-storey apartment block in Regent Street, Haslingden, in February 2017.

The court heard Pemberton, 57, would frequently visit her son, who had a drink and drug problem, and drink with him in the flat.

Other apartment block residents had complained to the building’s owner, William Grundy, about the defendant’s son.

There were arguments between the three of them as a result.

The court heard the defendant had asked Mr Grundy to remove her son from the flat several times.

As a result the defendant’s son was evicted from the apartment.

Keith Sutton, prosecuting, said CCTV footage showed her inside the building, and shortly after she left the flat was on fire.

He said: “She admitted she deliberately set fire to the flat.

“The defendant set fire to the flat as a result of grievances she had in relation to Mr Grundy," said Mr Sutton.

“She said she would not leave the flat until she saw the flames.

“She said she would not go down for a ‘small apartment in Regent Street’ but for something bigger.”

The court heard in Mr Grundy’s victim statement the apartment block suffered considerable damage and incurred insurance losses of around £60,000.

Mr Grundy had also received unpleasant text messages from from the defendant.

Pemberton, who had worked as a state enrolled nurse for 33 years, had set fire to the flat with a candle, the court heard.

Mark Stuart, defending, said his client had been drinking to cope with working 14-hour shifts as a nurse and cope with her son’s issues.

He said: “At the time she was 55, with impeccable character.

“She worked 30 years as a nurse, brought her family on her own.

“With arson cases sometimes accelerants are used, this is not the case.

“It was caused by a naked flame.”

Pemberton, of Moorfield Avenue, Huncoat, had pleaded guilty to arson and being reckless.

She was given a two-year prison sentence and ordered to pay a surcharge.

A restraining order was so made to not make contact with Mr Grundy and his family for five years.

Judge Simon Medland QC, said arson offences were treated as so serious by the courts that maximum sentences can be life in prison.

He said: “The son has drink and drug problem, this would have driven this defendant around the bend.

“It is truly tragic to see women of your character and age in the dock.

“The psychiatrist said you were having a moderate depressed episode.”