Posted on 05/23/2002 5:36:45 PM PDT by aculeus
AN AROMATHERAPIST who launched a series of arson attacks in a campaign of terror against a former lover was told yesterday that she faces a jail sentence. Susan Shepherd, 44, set light to Mark Gilbert’s house four times when he was out and scratched cars belonging to two of his female friends after he ended their relationship.
Norwich Crown Court was told how Shepherd was eventually apprehended after surveillance cameras on Mr Gilbert’s bungalow filmed her pouring petrol through a catflap.
When questioned by police, Shepherd claimed not to remember her movements because she became “vague” at the time of a full moon.
A jury yesterday returned unanimous guilty verdicts against Shepherd on four counts of arson and two of criminal damage. Adjourning the case for pre-sentence reports, Judge David Mellor warned Shepherd to expect a jail term. The court was told how the four arson attacks caused thousands of pounds worth of damage to Mr Gilbert’s home, scorching his garage door, twice setting fire to his conservatory and melting a washing machine. On a fourth occasion Shepherd set light to her former lover’s hallway after pouring petrol through his letterbox.
Mr Gilbert, 32, told the court that after meeting Shepherd, who lived opposite him in Denver, Norfolk, in November 1999, the pair shared “a degree of intimacy” for about eight weeks. He said they had ended the relationship by mutual agreement, adding that he had instigated the split.
The court was told how Mr Gilbert, who runs an agricultural business, discovered his garage doors had been scorched by a fire in January 2000, while the following November another fire in his conservatory melted the extractor fan and left his bungalow smoke logged.
“I began to realise that somebody was not happy with me,” he told the court. He said he confronted her about the arson attacks with the intention of righting any misunderstandings about their relationship.
“I thought the conversation had cleared the air,” he said.
Not only elementary, my dear Gilbert, positively pre-kindergarten.
This is too good of a punchline for this story! ROFL!
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