Burning shoes put through window in ‘love triangle’ revenge attack
TARGETED AS MUM AND DAUGHTER
BURNING trainers and lighter fuel were put through the window of a mum’s home in a “love triangle” revenge attack between former friends.
Gemma Adnitt set fire to the shoes the victim had given her as a gift and put them through her window along with a gas cannister as the victim and her nine-year-old daughter slept. Fortunately, the clang of the metal container hitting a radiator woke the woman up and she managed to put the fire out before it got out of control.
Adnitt, who carried out the arson attack with Omer Taha, had fallen out with the victim after a series of incidents and her barrister said a “love triangle of sorts” had developed. Taha, who had split from the victim at the time, is now back with her, Newcastle Crown Court heard as he and Adnitt were jailed.
In the lead up to the arson attack at Brinkburn Avenue, Gateshead, on September 30 2019, there had been a number of incidents which led to issues between the woman and Adnitt and Taha.
When the woman returned from a break in France, items had been stolen from her home and on September 26 Adnitt had been bitten by the
woman’s dog. On September 29, the woman went to bed around 9pm and her nine-year-old daughter was also asleep in the flat. The woman was woken in the early hours by the sound of something metal hitting a radiator.
Passing sentence, Judge Robert Spragg said: “She saw the room lit up by the light coming from behind the curtain. There was a smell of burning plastic.
“She opened the curtain and on the radiator between the curtain and window there was a pair of children’s trainers and a metal refill canister. The trainers were what she had given you as a present.”
The trainers were on fire and a curtain also caught fire. The woman picked up one of the trainers and a lighter fuel canister and threw them out of the window. When she tried to pick up the second trainer her hand was burnt.
She used a cloth to smother the flames and also threw a bottle of water over them. She called 999 and police and firefighters arrived shortly afterwards. A fire investiga
tion showed the blaze had been started deliberately.
CCTV showed Adnitt carrying a burning object and walking towards the woman’s home with Taha behind her. Both then walk away, leaving the burning trainers. Anthony Dunne, prosecuting, said: “The trainers were the same kind (the victim) had given to Miss Adnitt earlier as a present. On the evidence of Mr Taha at trial they were both heavily in drink at the time. Given the background it may be considered to be revenge attack.”
Judge Spragg said: “Throwing a lit pair of trainers and a lighter fuel cannister into the property at a time when she was asleep – if it had not made a noise when it hit the radiator and woke her up there was a significant risk of serious physical harm.
“This was a revenge attack and there was use of an accelerant. There was a risk to her daughter as well.”
He added: “You were both in some sort of relationship.”
Adnitt, 35, of Cheviot Gardens, Lobley Hill, Gateshead, admitted arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered and a separate offence of possessing a bladed article.
Taha, 38, of Woodlands Road, Rowlands Gill, Gateshead, was convicted after a trial of arson being reckless as to whether life was endangered.
Adnitt was jailed for three years seven months and Taha got three years nine months.
Tony Cornberg, for Adnitt, said the case was five years old and she has been remanded in custody for three months, during which time she became unwell and had a cardiac arrest and had to be saved by a nurse.
Mr Cornberg added: “Five years ago Miss Aditt, Mr Taha and the victim were good friends. This developed into a love triangle of sorts by the sounds of it. Things turned sour and they fell out.
“In drink, she seems to have taken the step, a childish one to say the least, of setting or having the trainers damaged by fire and throwing them in the window – ‘you can have them back as well’ being the sentiment.
“In the pre-sentence report it’s clear she’s fixated on the fact she says this was not all one-way traffic. There are clearly things she can’t or won’t accept.”
The court heard Taha and the victim have since reconciled and are back in a relationship and she has said he is a loving and kind man.
Stuart Graham, for Taha, said: “He says to me he is exceedingly sorry and wishes he could turn back time. There is another side to Mr Taha.
“His involvement was nothing more than lending support to Miss Adnitt but I accept that makes him guilty. The victim is still engaging with the defendant, seeing him in prison along with visits from his sister.”