AN alcoholic woman sang Ring of Fire to a 999 operator hours before starting a blaze in a bedsit block she had been evicted from.

Police went to the phone box from where the call was made and found Marianne Cullerton slumped on the ground, repeating the lyrics from the Johnny Cash song.

The officers were familiar with Cullerton, who had often been found in a drunken condition in public in Durham City and Darlington.

Durham Crown Court heard that she refused police help, and the officers did not believe she would carry out her threat. However, at about 10pm, a couple walking home noticed smoke coming from an open front door in High Northgate, Darlington.

David Lamb, prosecuting, said Cullerton emerged from the door followed by smoke.

Mr Lamb said the passing man, Stephen Oliver “rather bravely, if a little foolishly”

ran into the property and found letters alight on stairs leading to flats.

He kicked the burning letters towards the door and knocked on the flat doors to alert occupants. Mr Lamb said the flats were empty, but a neighbouring family were evacuated from their home because of the smoke.

Damage was limited to the stairway, while Mr Oliver was treated by firefighters for smoke inhalation.

Cullerton was found in an intoxicated and dishevelled condition in the Market Place, Durham City, the next morning.

She initially denied starting the fire, but admitted being present.

However, Cullerton, 28, admitted arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, at an earlier hearing.

Yesterday’s sentencing went ahead in her absence because she refused to leave her prison cell.

Tony Davis, for Cullerton, told the court: “She is effectively one of the disenfranchised of society, with an inevitability she will commit usually lowlevel crime.”

He said that until her time in custody, she was addicted to heroin, anti-depressants and alcohol. He said: “There is no real element of spite in her, but this was a reaction to being evicted by her landlord.

“Clearly, she has enormous emotional problems.”

Jailing her for four years, Judge Christopher Prince said there was an element of revenge behind her actions.

He said there could have been more serious consequences were it not for Mr Oliver’s bravery.