A DRUNKEN woman who started a blaze at her council home had to be dragged out unconscious.

Burnley Crown Court heard how "chronic alcoholic" Michelle Wheatley, 31, had children from a previous relationship, but did not have a clue how old they were.

Wheatley walked free from court after Judge David Pirie put her on probation for two years. He said many such cases resulted in the culprits going to prison, but he had been persuaded that that was not the right course.

He said: "The right course, not just in your interests, but in the public's interest, is that I should make a probation order."

Wheatley, of Whittaker Street, Blackburn, admitted arson.

Sara Dodd, prosecuting, said Wheatley and her partner lived in Fishmoor Drive, Blackburn and the partner went to his sister's nearby saying there was a fire and Wheatley was still inside the property.

The sister and her husband went round, found Wheatley unconscious and dragged her out. Two fires had been set in the lounge, in a chair and clothing in the hallway. An ambulance was called, by which time the defendant was still unconscious on a grass verge. She was given oxygen and taken to hospital.

The next day police went to make a witness statement and when asked what happened, Wheatley said: "It was both of us."

She said she had no money for drink and had set fire to a coat hanging in the hallway. The fire caused relatively minor damage to the house, just smoke damage in the hallway.

Paul Hague, defending, said Wheatley was a chronic alcoholic and had been for about 16 years. She and her partner drank cider, sherry or whatever they could get their hands on, scavenging from the back of pubs.

She knew it was killing her and although the defendant had children she could not even suggest how old they might be. Wheatley was a "pathetic sight," had little recollection of what happened and was anxious to protect her co-habitee.

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