A WOMAN who set fire to her own home has been warned she could face jail.

Kay Maitland-Thomas, 54, was set to face trial at Cardiff Crown Court on three counts of arson after a fire started at her flat on Vincent Court, off Corporation Road in Newport, on May 3.

However, Maitland-Thomas changed her plea to guilty against the second count, arson being reckless, at a hearing at the same court yesterday.

The prosecution allowed a count of arson to be dropped because they accepted that, given the evidence, they could not say whether the fire had been started deliberately or accidentally.

Prosecutor Andrew Jones also said that evidence froma fire officer suggested that the fire had been contained to the sofa of the Melin Homes property and that the risk of the fire spreading, given the construction of the property, was minimal.

A pre-sentence report and a psychological report will now be carried out, as the defence stated that Maitland-Thomas was suffering severely from depression at the time of the fire.

Mr Recorder Peter Rouch QC remanded Maitland-Thomas in custody until a potential sentencing on November 20.

Recorder Rouch warned: “These reports do not mean you won’t be receiving a custodial sentence.

“The sentence will be one which is appropriate to the judge on the day.”