A PSYCHOPATHIC arsonist who set fire to a Malvern flat following the death of her boyfriend has been jailed for four years.

But Yvonne Tonks will be supervised for the next nine years because of her crime, a court heard.

The 35-year-old had earlier accused a neighbour of killing her boyfriend and had smashed his door with a hammer.

She then threw an ashtray at a police officer, bruising her leg.

Ten days later, she returned to the block and set fire to a rug and curtains at her boyfriend's ground-floor flat.

A number of people were in other flats in the building at the time, but a neighbour heard the alarm and put out the fire.

When she appeared at Crown Court last month, Tonks - of Elgar Avenue, Great Malvern - admitted arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.

'Unstable'

She also admitted affray, criminal damage and assaulting a police officer. She said she had been depressed and lonely since her boyfriend's death, and had been drinking.

She was remanded in custody until yesterday for a psychiatrist to give evidence.

At Hereford Crown Court, Dr Rao Nimmagadda, a specialist registrar in forensic psychiatry, said he considered Tonks to have a psychopathic disorder and was still a danger to the public.

He said her illness could not be treated at hospital or within the community.

He described her as "impulsive and unstable", and said she suffered from mood swings and a tendency to harm herself.

Simon Phillips, defending, said that Tonks' alcohol consumption had

From P1 / n "diminished... She has a new partner who will stand by her".

Judge David Matthews said he understood the awful effects of depression and loneliness, but said there was no alternative to a custodial sentence.

He gave her a longer sentence than usual because he said it was clearly not the first time she had set fire to buildings.

"But for the prompt action of the neighbour, the consequences of your actions could have been exceptionally serious," he said.

"Part of my duty is to protect the public from those who commit crimes and put people at risk of serious harm. You fall into this category."