A woman who deliberately started a fire in a Reading block of flats while suffering from sleep deprivation has been jailed for 30 months.

Emma West set the blaze in the early hours of June 1 and then called South Central Ambulance Service, a judge was told.

The 34-year-old told the call operators that she had set fire to her flat, prosecutor Jack Preece told the judge.

Mr Preece said: “During this call, a fire alarm could be heard to start going off. She had set fire top something in her flat. 

“She managed to escape and she did try to alert other residents that there is a fire, shouting ‘there is a fire’, they should get out.”

The ambulance service, police and firefighters attended the scene, where West was treated for smoke inhalation and arrested.

Firefighters discovered West had set fire to a 90cm pile of clothes on the floor of her bedroom and that the fire had spread to the doorway and kitchen areas also. 

It was determined after an investigation that West had most likely applied a naked flame to combustible fabric clothing. 

Josh Bibby, defending, said West, who has been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder, was suffering with sleep deprivation at the time.

“In her case, sleep deprivation could have intensified her manic depressive symptoms”, Mr Bibby told Reading Crown Court.

The barrister pointed out that West had called the police and tried to warn the other residents at the flat at Holmdene in Burghfield Common, which is owned by Sovereign Housing. 

“Ms West is of course very sorry for what she has done and the risk that was caused”, Mr Bibby added.

West admitted arson with intent to endanger life and appeared in court by video link from HMP Bronzefield for sentence on Monday.

Judge Kirsty Real, sentencing, said the least possible sentence she could impose was one of 30 months immediate custody.

The judge pointed out West had an “fairly extensive” list of previous convictions, including multiple offences of criminal damage. 

Although West did have underlying mental health problems, she had also taken drugs on the night of the incident and there was a risk of her relapsing in the community, Judge Real said.