Northampton: Woman jailed for arson attack on ex-partner's home

A woman who set her flat on fire and then caused an explosion at her ex-partner's home has been jailed.

Lauren Marie Talbot, 39, from Northampton, admitted to arson with intent to endanger life and was sentenced to six years in prison.

When firefighters arrived at her flat, they found "this flat can burn in hell" written on the wall.

Northamptonshire Police said the case "shows how seriously we take these kinds of incidents".

The court heard there was evidence that Talbot believed her ex-partner was inside the flat when the explosion happened

In the early hours of the morning of 21 December 2022, Lauren Talbot started several fires in her flat in Shelley Street in Kingsley, Northampton.

Ms Talbot was later arrested and charged with arson and being reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Firefighters found "this flat can burn in hell" written on the wall of Talbot's home

Then, on the evening of 18 June 2023, she attacked her ex-partner's flat in the Drapery in Northampton's town centre.

Video footage showed Ms Talbot arriving at her ex-partner's home wearing a jumper with the hood up, she then lit a gas canister and tried to post it through his letterbox.

When this failed, she left the canister burning outside his front door, which caused a huge explosion.

The blast blew two doors open, cracked the walls and burned the carpet.

Her ex-partner was not in the flat at the time, though evidence suggested Ms Talbot thought he would be, and no-one was injured.

The flat where the explosion took place was in the Drapery in Northampton's town centre

Ms Talbot was later arrested and charged with arson with intent to endanger life. She pleaded guilty to both arson offences in September 2023 at Northampton Crown Court.

On 16 January she returned to the same court and was sentenced to six years in prison with an extended period of four years for the incident in the Drapery, and two years in prison for the Kingsley fire. The sentences will be served at the same time.

Det Con Roisin Harrison said: "She could have killed someone as a result of both offences and it is through sheer luck that no-one was injured."

Speaking about the victim, Det Con Harrison said: "Luckily he was not in his flat that day, but the incident has understandably had a very real effect on him.

"I hope this result provides him with some semblance of closure."