AN ALCOHOLIC who set fire to her partner's clothes in the flat they shared walked free from a court yesterday.

Angeline Mawdsley had been drunk at the time and the emergency services were alerted by her partner, while a neighbour roused people living in the same block of flats.

Mawdsley had also assaulted her friend with a rolling pin after she had taken £10 from her to buy drink.

Appearing before Bolton Crown Court, Mawdsley, aged 41, of Arlene Avenue, Bury, had previously admitted unlawfully wounding Jane Hull and arson.

Judge Reginald Lockett said she had served the equivalent of a 13 month prison sentence while on remand.

He sentenced her to a Community Rehabilitation Order for two years and ordered her to live at Westcliffe house in Rochdale as part of an alcohol rehabilitation programme.

The court heard that Mawdsley had gone to her friend's house asking her to buy drink for her.

Her friend refused but when Mawdsley left the room she noticed a £10 note was missing.

When she confronted her about the money Mawdsley became agitated and eventually hit on the head with a rolling pin causing lacerations.

Later following a domestic row with her partner Mawdsley set fire to a pile of his clothes which in turn set alight the net curtains.

The court heard Mawdsley, who had several convictions including assault against the police, had been placed in care when she was 14 because her parents abused alcohol.

She had later begun to abuse alcohol herself, but, until she became ill she had been married for 14 years and had held down jobs.

She had now become sober again after being in custody since April and was determined to stay away from alcohol.