A tormented young mum suffering from postnatal depression almost burned down her house after setting light to her favourite teddy bear.

Jodie Blackford, 23, nearly succeeded as a blaze ripped through the house in Ashfields, Basildon, causing £10,000 damage.

She told police: "At the time I just wanted to end my life." Instead, she walked away and was unharmed.

Blackford pleaded guilty at Basildon Crown Court to reckless arson which endangered life. She was jailed for 21 months.

In the inferno, a number of family pets perished, including two cats, fish and an iguana.

Blackford, suffering from post natal depression, allowed a parakeet to live by letting it fly away.

Her neighbours' homes were badly affected by smoke from the blaze, said Richard Livingston, prosecuting.

Blackford had a history of quarrelling with husband David after the birth of her second child.

She released her anger on him when she was feeling particularly low, often hurling items at him, said Mr Livingston. On the day of the fire in August last year her husband and the children went out and she was left in a weepy state.

Blackford went to a bedroom, smoked a cigarette and set light to the teddy bear with her lighter.

When she was arrested for arson, Blackford told police: "We had a row. He took the kids out and I just flipped."

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