A MOTHER threatened to burn down her home, before setting fire to a bag of rubbish inside the property, because she was due to be evicted.

Barbara Harley made the "half-baked" attempt as a cry for help and did not intend to cause serious harm, Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard.

The 38-year-old had begun drinking after the death of her husband three years ago.

She was living in a semi-detached Chell Heath council house, rented through a housing association.

And on November 19 last year, Stoke-on-Trent City Council said it was going to evict her.

The court heard Harley became angry after she was told about the decision at 1.30pm.

Police were called to the address in Standersfoot Place.

At 6pm, a friend of the defendant's daughter was in the house and she heard Harley threaten to burn the property down.

Prosecutor Philip Beardwell said: "At 7.15pm two girls were playing in the street close to the house when they smelled smoke.

"They could see flames through the window of a rear ground floor bathroom. The alarm was raised.

"The fire service attended and discovered a bag of rubbish had been set on fire."

Harley had left the house and she later returned drunk.

She was arrested and the mother-of-two has spent 109 days on remand since the incident.

In court, Harley pleaded guilty to attempted arson.

She said she had not intended to harm anyone and only wanted to cause minimal damage to the house.

A fire officer's report said the flames could not have spread as the floor was tiled.

Robin Lichfield, mitigating, said very little damage was caused.

And Judge Simon Tonking said it was a "half-baked" attempt made in anger that was a cry for help.

He read a psychiatrist's report and received advice from a probation officer.

Judge Tonking then sentenced Harley to an 18-month community order with supervision.

Harley must have treatment for alcohol issues for six months.

She also has to live with her boyfriend in Barks Drive, Norton, or where her probation officer chooses.

Judge Tonking added: "I am quite sure that you did not take to alcohol at all until the death of your husband in 2007.

"It is really after that your life has gone off the rails, because of your drinking.

"You might have been angry you were told you were going to be evicted, but that did not justify setting fire to that bag of rubbish.

"But it was a futile attempt and did not put anyone in danger."