A WOMAN who repeatedly dialled 999 to report fires she had started herself has been jailed.
Amy Winter, 42, of Trefoil Crescent in Crawley, called police, fire crews and paramedics to an address in Brighton, multiple times on Christmas Eve in 2020,
During one of the incidents the crews were threatened and assaulted when they attempted to help Winter.
At 2.45pm, East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service received a call from Winter claiming that there was a fire at a Surrey Street flat.
She told the responder that she was struggling to breathe. Firefighters then attended the scene and extinguished a small fire.
Within the hour, Winter again made a concerning call to 999 just before 3.20pm.
Police officers and paramedics attended to find her with a head injury, but she became threatening and abusive when they tried to help.
After being assessed by a mental health officer, Winter calmed down and police officers left the scene.
While paramedics were sitting outside in Surrey Street completing their paperwork at 4.12pm, firefighters arrived with their blue lights on having just been called to the flat by Winter.
They found bedding had been set on fire inside, which they extinguished. But as they were leaving, the fire crew noticed flames through an internal window.
Winter locked the door behind them, but after forcing entry they found her bed had been set alight and she was pretending to be unconscious on the floor.
Police returned and she was arrested on suspicion of arson with recklessness as to endanger life, and she was later charged.
At Lewes Crown Court she was sentenced to 28 months in prison after pleading guilty.
Investigator Rose Horan said: “Amy Winter’s reckless behaviour endangered the lives of her neighbours, firefighters and the wider public.
“She deliberately started fires and was aggressive towards members of the emergency services.
“All of the police officers, paramedics and firefighters who attended on Christmas Eve displayed incredible patience with her.
“This custodial sentence should send a message to her and others not to waste the valuable time and resources of the emergency services."
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