A Pembroke woman who set fire to her flat after becoming annoyed with her boyfriend for getting up too early has been jailed for three years.
Hayley James, aged 38, had admitted arson being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
Helen Randall, prosecuting, told Swansea crown court on Tuesday how by December 2 last year, James, of The Green, Pembroke, had been staying at Commercial Row, Pembroke Dock, with her partner Christopher Wheeldon.
When he got up at 6 am, she threatened to start a fire unless he went back to bed.
About 30 minutes later, he spotted smoke coming from under the bedroom door and went into the room to see that flames from a burning wardrobe were already touching the ceiling.
Mr. Wheeldon took a dog to the home of a neighbour, but by the time he had returned, the fire was so fierce he thought he would not be able to get back in.
But he managed to crawl into the bedroom and rescue James, who suffered serious burns.
The property was completely gutted, said Miss Randall.
After her arrest, James told police she could not remember anything about the fire.
Mr. Wheeldon told officers, “She is my partner. I am not a victim. I want her to get better.”
Judge Geraint Walters said James had not been well mentally, but according to a psychiatrist she did not need care for that, although she needed to address other issues including alcohol.
Judge Walters said that since being remanded into custody, James appeared to be taking advantage of the help afforded to her.
“This is a very serious offence. That was an almighty fire,” he said.
Judge Walters told James she owed her life to Mr. Wheeldon, who had risked his own life to save hers.
Judge Walters said he accepted that James had been badly injured because of a fire she had started herself, and the scars she would bear for the rest of her life would remind her of how close she came to dying.