Hove security guard jailed for starting £5m fire

A security guard from Hove has been jailed for six years for arson and perverting the course of justice.

Jo Palmer, 44, of Clarendon Road, Hove, started a fire causing more than £5 million of damage to flats which were being built in Brighton Hill in Basingstoke.

She was supposed to be protecting the three blocks when she started the fire on Friday 10 September 2010.

Fifty neighbouring homes suffered smoke damage as more than a hundred firefighters from three counties spent four hours tackling the blaze.

Palmer blamed four innocent boys for starting the fire. They were arrested by Hampshire Police but released without charge.

She admitted arson at Winchester Crown Court and was jailed just before lunch today (Friday 6 July).