A woman who killed a friend’s dog by setting light to his home has been sent to a mental hospital in Wellington.

Heidi Hopson was experiencing a psychotic episode and had been drinking before she lit three fires in the terraced house in Discovery Road, Plymouth, on the evening of February 7 last year. 

She was staying with a family friend who had just nipped out of the house to go to the shops and returned at around 8.40pm to find it burning and with firefighters trying to tackle the fire.

Hopson escaped the fire and was found in the back garden suffering from smoke inhalation but the owner’s dog was found dead in the heavily damaged house.

Investigators found she had started one fire in the living room and two upstairs which had spread to furnishings and caused heat and smoke damage serious enough to render the house inhabitable until repairs were carried out.

Hopson, 43, who is now a patient at the Wellesley Hospital, in Wellington, admitted arson and was subject to an indefinite hospital order by Judge David Evans at Exeter Crown Court.

He imposed an restriction on her release to ensure that she cannot be moved into the community until it is safe to do so and sufficient monitoring is in place.

He told her: “I am satisfied you were suffering from a schizoaffective disorder of a nature that is suitable for you to be detained in hospital for medical treatment.. 

“I find that no penal element is appropriate because of the degree to which your culpability and appreciation of the harm you caused were affected by your mental disorder.” 

Miss Bathsheba Cassel, prosecuting, said Hopson had been living at the house at the invitation of a friend for three weeks and he knew she had a background of long-term mental illness. 

On the night of the fire she had spent most of her time listening to music in her room, only coming downstairs to eat or go into the garden to smoke. She told the owner she did not want to be around any more, but he had no immediate fears for her welfare.

He went out to make a short trip to the shops at around 8.20pm and came back to find the house alight. Passers-by raised the alarm at 8.36 pm and firefighters found Hopson in the back garden suffering from smoke inhalation.

Miss Cassel said: “The owner has not made a victim personal statement but there was extensive damage and the property was rendered temporarily uninhabitable and a dog died in the fire.”

Hopson claimed the fire had been started by a scented candle but became so agitated when arrested at hospital that she tried to put an electrical cable around her neck.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Caroline Jacob confirmed that Hopson is suffering from a treatable condition and a bed is available for her at the Wellesley.

Miss Francesca Whebell, defending, said three doctors have agreed that a hospital order with restrictions is the correct outcome for the case.