A Brighton woman walked free from court yesterday despite being sentenced to prison for arson with intent to endanger life.
Sarah Cornford, 31, of Upper Chalvington Place, Whitehawk, was sentenced to two and a half years in prison for the arson attack on Brighton seafront.
Cornford damaged the front door of a property in Marine Parade, Brighton, belonging to English language tutor Alison Kroon.
At the time Sussex Police said: “Police were called to an address in Marine Parade, Brighton, at around 10.50pm on Saturday 15 August 2015 to a report someone was trying to set fire to a house.
“The flames were out on arrival but burn marks could be seen on the front door.
“A woman from Brighton was arrested near the scene on suspicion of arson with intent to endanger life and remanded in police custody.”
Days after the attack Cornford broke the bail conditions imposed by Brighton magistrates when she failed to keep the curfew that they had ordered.
So when Judge Guy Anthony jailed her yesterday (Thursday 9 March) at Lewes Crown Court for the attack in August 2015, Cornford had already served more than half her sentence as she waited for her case to come to court.
She will serve the remainder of her sentence on licence.
