A WOMAN has been jailed for a total of 12 years after killing a man by setting fire to his flat.

Lisa Connelly was responsible for the death of Fred Payne, a man she called “grandad”, after starting a fire and leaving him inside.

Mr Payne, 78, a diabetic with a serious heart condition, was overcome with smoke and died of carbon monoxide poisoning at his home in Rochdale Way, Colchester during the early hours of Sunday, September 4.

Connelly, who lived with him, got out unharmed having started the fire in the bedroom.

At Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday 42-year-old mother-of-two Connelly admitted one count of manslaughter and one count of arson being reckless as to whether life or property was endangered.

She denied murder and arson with intent to endanger life.

Angela Rafferty QC, prosecuting, said: “The first thing neighbours became aware of was a serious fire at 12.30am.

“Mr Payne was found lying near the threshold of the kitchen.

“Connelly was seen by various people outside. She made no attempt to get back into the house to help My Payne.

“She left the scene before she could be arrested.”

A fire report concluded it appears she moved a piece of furniture into the middle of the room and set light to it.

Det Chief Insp Stephen Jennings said: “We believe the defendant had feared he would go into sheltered accommodation without her and she started the fire with the view of trying to scare him to carry on with her.”

Simon Spence, mitigating, told the court Connelly was crime free until she was 30 and she met her boyfriend. Over the next 12 years her life spiralled out of control into drug addiction.

He said: “She and Mr Payne were genuinely fond of each other.

“She chose to call him Granddad.

“She has to live knowing she has been responsible for someone else’s death.”

Judge Patricia Lynch QC sentenced Connelly to 12 years for manslaughter and eight years to be served concurrently for reckless arson.

She received no separate penalty for a burglary which she committed in Blackberry Road while the occupants were at home.

She was on bail for burglary at the time of the fire.

Judge Lynch said: “These are serious offences. Only a very serious prison sentence can follow.”

  • COMMUNITY heroes have been praised after saving one life and trying to save another as fire ripped through a home.

Neighbours Dale Coppin and Anton Cook crawled into the burning building in Rochdale Way, Colchester, to save a 96-year-old woman and attempt to save Fred Payne.

Angela Rafferty QC, prosecuting, told the court: “Mr Coppin went into his burning flat on his hands and knees.

“Unfortunately he could not locate Mr Payne.”

He only left the flat when the smoke was too much and he started bleeding from his nostrils.

Mrs Rafferty added: “Anton Cook went in three times. He tried to get to Mr Payne. His wife had to stop him going in a fourth time.”

Mr Cook was able to get upstairs and carry a 96-year-old woman to safety from the flat above.

Judge Patricia Lynch QC said: “These two gentlemen went above what is to be expected from normal people.

“They went into a burning building not only putting their lives at risk but making serious efforts to save and one of them carried out a 96-year-old.

“Their courage, their heroism and their bravery is something we should all admire and respect.”

She awarded them £500 each from a special fund. Det Chief Insp Stephen Jennings added: “They are nothing short of heroes.

“What they attempted to do, to save Mr Payne, only beaten back by the fire, was incredible.”

Contact has been made by the police to the heroes to inform them of what happened in court when Connelly was sentenced.

They are being recommended for further awards having done all they could to save Mr Payne and rescuing the 96-year-old woman.

  • JUDGE Patricia Lynch QC criticised Lisa Connelly for taking advantage of pensioner Fred Payne before going on to kill him.

The judge said: “You manipulated him, exploited him, neglected him and took his money.”

Connelly was in the midst of drug addiction at the time having led a law abiding life for 30 years.

A boyfriend was blamed for her downfall.

Judge Lynch accepted her remorse as genuine and Simon Spence QC, mitigating, told the court she was doing everything she could to free herself from addiction, and the clutches of her former boyfriend, before she is freed.

Det Chief Insp Stephen Jennings said: “Fred Payne was an elderly, vulnerable man with no traceable relatives. Lisa Connelly exploited of him, inserting herself in his life, taking over his house, and stealing money on a daily basis to feed her drug addiction. She left Mr Payne unwell and took no action which may have saved his life.

“If it were not for her actions and her negligence Mr Payne would still be alive. Her actions were disgusting and unforgivable.”