THE court heard how Mrs Billington was now suffering from both the financial and emotional fallout of the dramatic events on January 20.

Miss Rickman said that as a result of the oil tanker driving into her house Mrs Billington had been left with substantial debt and faced the costs of rebuilding the house after around £235,000 of damage was caused.

She said: “More importantly she has been left without a home and her personal belongings were reduced to about a car-full.

“Everything else was destroyed as a result of the fire.

“Financially, she has nothing left, the mortgage and overdraft are too big, and all her clothing was destroyed and she is reliant on others for handouts and having to borrow money.”

Miss Rickman added: “She says she has been having nightmares and she has lost a lot of confidence.”

Judge Jarvis told the defendant as he sentenced him: “So far as the effect on Mrs Billington is concerned it has been serious and profound.

“She has, it seems, lost just about everything.”