A mother-of-five splashed petrol around her ex-partner’s flat in Wem and then lit a cigarette during a row, a court has heard.

Rebecca Wiltshire, who had a jerry can containing two litres of fuel, was shouting “I’ll show you how crazy I am” before pouring the petrol around the kitchen and lounge.

Frightened neighbours in Heckford Road raised the alarm after smelling the fuel and overhearing the shouting coming from the property occupied by Adrian Oswell and the defendant.

Wiltshire, the 38-year-old, had been drinking and had got the fuel from a garden shed during the row.

At Shrewsbury Crown Court, Judge Jonathan Gosling gave Wiltshire an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years.

He also told Wiltshire she must attend a rehabilitation programme and six alcohol treatment sessions and complete 100 hours unpaid work.

Wiltshire, now living in Blanquettes Avenue, Worcester, pleaded guilty to a charge of threatening to cause criminal damage at a previous hearing.

Sati Ruck, prosecuting, said the couple had been arguing prior to the incident on July 20 after the defendant returned upset from an appointment for a counselling sessions.

Later the defendant went out to pick up a takeaway and stopped for a drink and Mr Oswell was taking the dog for a walk when they bumped into each other in the street.

Miss Ruck said he was unhappy that she had been drinking and Wiltshire returned home.

“Mr Oswell then received calls and text messages threatening that the defendant was going to burn everything that he owned,” she said.

When he returned home at 10.20pm the defendant was in the lounge with a bottle of vodka and some wine.

Miss Ruck said after defendant poured the fuel over the lounge and kitchen Mr Oswell called the police. Wiltshire ignored his requests for her to leave the flat and lit a cigarette.

Police arrested the defendant and neighbours in the block of flats told officers they had been scared. Wiltshire told police it was “a stupid thing to do”.

The court heard Wiltshire has previous convictions including for driving while disqualified and failing to provide a specimen of breath.

Andrew Holland, for Wiltshire, said the couple had since split up and she had returned to live closer to her children in the Worcester area.

He said his client had too much to drink and the incident was a cry for help and while she had splashed the petrol around the flat she had no intention of setting light to it.