A former Kenyan nurse has received a suspended prison sentence after admitting to attempting to set fire to her neighbour’s home in Kent, England, following a long-standing dispute.
Magdaline Wangeci, 49, was captured on Ring doorbell footage trying to ignite her neighbour’s front door in the early hours of October last year while the family slept inside.
A 20-minute video obtained by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) shows Wangeci approaching the home in nightclothes and slippers before striking and throwing three lit matches at the wooden front door.
The pre-dawn incident unfolded while the family remained unaware of the imminent danger.
Prosecutors at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court described the act as premeditated and retaliatory, arising from the ongoing conflict between the two households.
“This was a deliberate attempt to set fire to an occupied home. The consequences could have been catastrophic,” the prosecution counsel told the court.
Heavy rainfall on the night had soaked the doormat, preventing the matches from igniting. No fire broke out, and authorities confirmed that no injuries or property damage occurred. Prosecutors noted that only environmental conditions prevented what could have been a deadly outcome for the sleeping family.
The defence told the court that Wangeci had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was under significant personal stress, compounded by serious health issues at the time of the offence.
While acknowledging these factors, the presiding magistrate reminded the court that attempted arson remains a serious criminal offence regardless of underlying circumstances.
Following her guilty plea, Wangeci received a four-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, conditional on compliance with court-mandated requirements.
The court also issued a five-year restraining order barring her from contacting the victim or approaching the neighbour’s property and imposed a permanent ban on all communication with the household.
Wangeci was ordered to pay around Sh15,000 (£115) in court costs and undergo ongoing mental health treatment and supervision throughout the suspension period.
The CPS acted swiftly after reviewing Ring doorbell footage, which clearly captured the attempted arson. Prosecutors highlighted that modern home security technology is increasingly critical in resolving neighbour disputes that escalate into criminal offences.
Wangeci must fully comply with all sentencing conditions, or her suspended four-month prison term could be enforced during the 18-month supervision period.
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