Thursday, 29 November 2007, 14:59 GMT
Wife's revenge plan ends in court

A woman chose Valentine's Day to wreak her revenge on her estranged husband's lover by trying to set fire to her car.

Kim Blinston, 45, of Soham, Cambs, later put a burnt newspaper through Clare Giddens' letterbox, Cambridge Crown Court heard.

Blinston had admitted one charge of attempted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and one charge of criminal damage.

Blinston was given a nine-month sentence suspended for two years.

She was also ordered to pay £200 compensation for damage to the car and £200 costs, and ordered not to contact Miss Giddens and made the subject of an ASBO.

'Final straw'

The court heard how care assistant Blinston had been furious that her estranged husband Gary, 44, was having an affair with Miss Giddens, who lived in the same town.

She had had a few drinks and then gone to Miss Giddens' house and dropped burning newspaper behind her car, the court heard.

Prosecutor Charles Kellett said: "She then picked up the paper and pushed it through Miss Giddens' letterbox. It hit the draught excluder and went out causing minor damage."

Blinston admitted her 23-year relationship with her husband had been on the rocks for some time.

"We'd been having problems and had separated, but that was the final straw, to find he'd been shacking up with her," she said.

Judge Jonathan Howarth told her: "I don't think I need to tell you how unacceptable your behaviour was.

"For you to play with fire makes this a serious offence. You had several drinks and then went round to the victim's home."