Former Kenyan Nurse in UK Caught on Camera Trying to Set Neighbour’s House on Fire
A former nurse has avoided immediate imprisonment after admitting to attempting to set fire to her neighbour’s home in Kent, an act magistrates described as a potentially catastrophic retaliation
Magdaline Wangeci, 49, was sentenced at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court following an incident in October, when she was caught on Ring doorbell footage striking matches and throwing them at her neighbour’s wooden front door in the early hours of the morning. The family inside remained unaware of the danger.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) presented 20 minutes of surveillance footage showing Wangeci, dressed in nightclothes and slippers, approaching the property and trying to ignite the door. Prosecutors argued that the act was deliberate and driven by an ongoing dispute between the two households. They stressed that the consequences could have been catastrophic had the fire started.
Heavy rainfall at the time played a crucial role in preventing the fire from taking hold. A soaked doormat extinguished the matches, sparing the family and preventing damage to the property. Prosecutors highlighted that only the weather conditions had averted a potentially deadly outcome.
Wangeci’s defence cited her struggles with mental health, including a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, and personal challenges she had faced. While the court acknowledged these factors, the presiding magistrate emphasised that attempted arson is a serious offence regardless of circumstances.
Wangeci received a four-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, with strict conditions. She was ordered not to contact her neighbour under a five-year restraining order and must undergo ongoing mental health treatment and supervision. Additionally, she was fined £115 in court costs.
The CPS noted the increasing role of home security technology, such as doorbell cameras, in securing convictions.
