A WOMAN who set her flat on fire after drinking a bottle of vodka and three litres of cider has avoided jail because she is working to turn her life around.

Susan Everingham, 53, was drunk when she started a blaze in a cardboard box at her home, in Oyster Court, Eldertree Road, Canvey, on New Year's Day.

Everingham had pleaded guilty to arson at an earlier hearing in May.

However, Judge Phillip Clegg, who was considering a jail term, gave Everingham a community sentence to help get her life back on track.

At Basildon Crown Court he took into account Everingham had never been in serious trouble, but had an "unhappy life".

He said: "For the past 12 years she has lived on her own and for the past two years she has lived in a flat on Canvey within a block of flats.

"It's quite clear she has been very lonely and in that loneliness she has sought refuge in drink. Last Christmas was a crisis time."

Judge Clegg said Everingham was alone on Christmas Day and by New Year's Day she felt she had had enough of life.

He said: "She had already drunk a bottle of vodka and three litres of cheap cider.

"She was very drunk and in that drunken state she claimed she heard voices and matters of that nature, and she tried to take her own life."

Everingham cut her wrists and started a small fire in the block of 22 flats, but she panicked and quickly put it out. Judge Clegg said he recognised Everingham had tried to turn her life around since the incident and she did not pose a serious threat to the public.

Everingham has recently moved into a small hotel in Southend, run to help people, including those with drug and alcohol problems.

Judge Clegg said: "She's doing well. She's working hard voluntarily in the hotel and she's given up drink."

Everingham was sentenced to a two-year community order with an 18-month alcohol rehabilitation programme to complete.