A WOMAN who admitted inadvertently starting a fire in a hostel where she was staying received a suspended prison sentence.

Samantha Louise Alderson was one of three people rescued from a room at the YMCA, in Darlington, in the early hours of January 31.

A blaze was reported at 2.20am, and firefighters attending the scene were told a woman and two men were feared trapped in the first floor flat of the complex in Middleton Street.

All three were helped from the room without suffering serious injury, but Alderson was taken to hospital for treatment for the effects of breathing in smoke.

She was arrested on suspicion of arson several hours later having been released from hospital.

The 18-year-old hostel resident was subsequently charged with arson with intent to endanger life and the alternative of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and was remanded in custody.

When she previously appeared at Durham Crown Court, initially via video link from Low Newton Women’s Prison, in the city, the Crown were said to be reviewing the charges.

In the intervening period she was granted bail, to an address in Barningham Street, Darlington, having spent two months in custody.

A provisional trial date was agreed, if required, for July 29.

The prosecution, however, subsequently accepted Alderson’s guilty plea to a charge of simple arson, with no aggravating features.

Stephen Duffield, for the Crown, said it was accepted the blaze could have started through the inadvertent dropping of a lit cigarette onto combustible material, such as a carpet.

Judge Christopher Prince, therefore agreed to impose an eight month young offenders’ institution sentence, suspended for two years, during which Alderson will be subject to Probation supervision.

As part of the order she must attend a ‘thinking skills’ programme for at least 18 sessions.