Beneficiary ordered to pay reparation for arson

A beneficiary has been jailed and ordered to pay $94,000 reparation for setting fire to her former partner's house.

On September 20 last year, Tania Crake, 40, crashed her car into the man's garage door.

She went inside and threw furniture around, stomped on the tank of a motorbike then set the place on fire, causing over $90,000 in damage.

In New Plymouth District Court yesterday prosecutor Tim Walls said Crake wanted to get back at her former partner who had started a new relationship, the Taranaki Daily News reported.

Defence counsel Kylie Pascoe said Crake was drunk at the time and had tried to put the fire out.

Crake was jailed for two years and four months, ordered to pay her ex $10,000 and his insurance company $84,000.

- NZPA