A TEENAGE arsonist begged to be locked up in prison because she felt so depressed and alone, Worcester magistrates heard.

Eighteen-year-old Donna Littlewood, from Park Street, Worcester, pleaded guilty to one charge of arson.

She had set fire to four bins in Evesham's town centre at 12.20pm, on Wednesday, May 28. She then pushed lighted paper through the letterbox of an office building in nearby Market Place before telephoning the police.

"This was a cry for help from a young girl who felt totally alone and safer in the hands of the police," said Judith Kenney, defending. "She begged to go to prison and intimated that if she wasn't taken she would do the same thing again.

"She has nowhere to live for much of the time and has been moved around so many times there is no continuity with the services that are available to her.

"She's not equipped for the outside world without a strong social support mechanism."

Social services are responsible for housing Littlewood and Mr Tate, of the NSPCC, said more needed to be done.

Responsibility

"She wasn't getting the degree of support that she needed," he said. "She wasn't being helped with her feelings and feels she can cope if social services take their responsibility for helping her.

"I can't compel social services to do anything but I can make sure her fears are known."

Liz Tweed, prosecuting, said £300 damage was caused in the incident.

"Littlewood was seen hanging around, looking suspicious and then arrested," she said. "She claimed she suffered from depression - that was why she started the fire - and when she saw the door catch alight she felt sick at what she had done and called the police."

Magistrates hearing the case yesterday served Littlewood with a 12-month community rehabilitation order.

"You must attend the psychiatric sessions that are being offered to you and help us to help you," said Derek Nunney, chairman of the bench.

The court did not order any costs or compensation to be paid.