A SOLDIER'S wife set fire to her former home at Blandford Army Camp while she was drunk, causing £20,000 worth of damage, a court was told.

Lesley Nealis, 23, ignited curtains with a cigarette lighter before alerting the guardroom that the building was on fire.

Dorchester Crown Court was told fire crews attended the scene of the blaze at the semi-detached house at South Crescent shortly before 11.30pm on September 20.

Prosecuting, Lisa Barraclough said Nealis was outside the property when Ministry of Defence police arrived. "She said she had done it and would do it again and again," said Miss Barraclough.

"She was taken to Poole Police Station and fully admitted the offence. She said she was very angry with the Army and the way it was treating her."

The court heard Nealis' husband was living in single accommodation at the camp at the time she committed the offence.

Nealis, who was now living in Scotland, pleaded guilty to arson.

Defending, David Campbell said probation officers recommended Nealis undergo counselling.

Sentencing Nealis to three years probation, Mr Recorder William Andreae-Jones said: "I have a report that you were ill at the time and you were under great stress.

"Had there been anybody else in the building there would have been no alternative than to send you away.

"You were drunk at the time but that's no excuse. To a large extent I accept you were not responsible for your own actions."

There was no order for costs or compensation.