A MOTHER set a pizza box alight in the kitchen of her rented home following a dispute with her ex-husband over their children.
Dental nurse Victoria Crates, 43, from Cross Road, Maldon, pleaded guilty at Chelmsford Magistrates' Court on Friday to arson. The court heard how Crates had been going through a troublesome divorce.
The fire caused damage to the tiles on the kitchen floor and caused damage to cupboard doors, which were later cleaned and repaired by Crates.
Gabriella Healey, mitigating, said: "This was an unfortunate incident for my client who was going through some tough times.
"It was an act of desperation. The firefighters said that this was a very minor incident because the fire was absent of any accelerant."
Magistrates gave Crates a 12-month community order which will require her to carry out 200 hours' unpaid work.
She must also pay a £60 victim surcharge and £115 costs.
