A drunk TikToker who set her block of flats on fire while she was on a FaceTime call has been jailed for two years.
Siobhan Houldsworth, 26, was talking to her sister on the video platform in her bedroom when she suddenly grabbed a pile of clothes and set them ablaze with a cigarette lighter at noon in October last year.
The sister looked on in horror then dialled 999 as the flames ripped through her flat in Stockport, Greater Manchester.
Within minutes, police rescued Houldsworth from a balcony, but the three storey apartment block had to be evacuated as firefighters battled the blaze.
No one was injured, but it is thought that the blaze caused up to £25,000 worth of damage to rooms and communal hallways.
When quizzed, Houldsworth, who regularly posts selfie videos in which she mimes movie dialogue and song lyrics on Chinese social media site TikTok, claimed she was trying to kill herself on FaceTime, but said of the fire: ‘I did not mean to do it, it was an accident.’
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester, the TikToker begged to go free after she admitted arson. However, a judge sentenced her to two years in jail, saying that she had put other lives at risk.
Siobhan Houldsworth. 26, was talking to her sister on the video platform in her bedroom when she suddenly grabbed a pile of clothes and set them ablaze with a cigarette lighter at noon on October 6 last year
Within minutes, police rescued Houldsworth from a balcony, but the three storey apartment block had to be evacuated while firefighters battled the blaze
Judge Angela Nield told the defendant: ‘This was a multiple occupancy building and there were others residing in the flats within the same vicinity.
‘At the time you set the fire, it is without question you were suffering significantly both from excess alcohol and significant mental health difficulties and this is a tragic case.
‘There seems to be little doubt your actions were a cry for help and unusually, the fire was set when you were on a FaceTime call with your relative. Clothing was set alight and they raised the alarm.
‘But in short, often those who commit arson are almost always significantly troubled, as were you when this was committed and this offence crosses the custody threshold. This was not a fire set in a single household, it was set of others innocent of any wrongdoing who could have lost their lives.
‘To start a fire sets off a force that no one can predict or control. You intended to kill yourself but once the flame is lit, you were a hostage to misfortune to whether others were injured, or worse killed.
‘Excessive damage was caused to your flat and to the common parts of the building, between £15-25,000 worth of repairs are expected to be necessary.
‘You did not leave the flat which is a testimony to the extent of your distress and intoxication, but police officers were required to attend and to place their lives at risk when trying to save yours.
‘You had to be restrained and handcuffed before you were removed. The risk to the police officers should not be minimised or ignored.’
Prosecutor Alistair Reid told the court: ‘During the call, she was seen to go and get clothes and start a fire in the middle of her bedroom floor.
Houldsworth had been in custody for 144 days since her arrest
At Minshull Street Crown Court, Houldsworth begged to go free after she admitted arson
‘The fire was started near to electrical appliances. A close family friend was on the same FaceTime call and could see a huge blaze.
‘Police were contacted by the family member and they arrived at the scene at 12:07. They forced their way through the front door of the entrance to the flats and when they reached Flat 14, the front door was open.
‘The defendant was in the living room leaning out of the balcony. She became obstructive with the police officers and refused to leave the flat. The police were forced to handcuff her and she appeared to be intoxicated. The flat was now filling with smoke and other flats had to be evacuated.
‘She was cautioned and when officers spoke to her after, she said: “I did not mean to do it, it was an accident”. A short time later, she said she was trying to kill herself when on FaceTime with her family and she was taken to Stepping Hill hospital.
‘When she was taken into custody, she said she could not recall what had happened. She said she was heavily intoxicated and had no recollection of what happened at all.
‘There was fire damage in her own bedroom and the building manager said there was extensive damage to the defendant’s flat, communal hallways and damage to the flats underneath due to water seeping through. The repairs are still ongoing.
‘There is no exact figure on the damage caused but it is estimated to be in the region of £15-25,000. The view of an expert was the fire was started from a naked flame to combustible materials whilst on FaceTime video.’
Houldsworth had been in custody for 144 days since her arrest.
Her lawyer Andrew Nuttall said: ‘She suffers from complex PTSD and what is clear is that this is a woman who needs and wants help. It was a cry for help when she lit this fire. She was not in the right state of mind.
‘She was talking to her sister at the time on FaceTime. She has a very supportive family and they are distraught as to what has happened. They are prepared to do anything they can to help her.
‘She would like to go back to the bosom of her family. This incident has been an awakening for the defendant.’
For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123, visit a local branch or go to samaritans.org.
