Woman jailed after planting gas canister that exploded outside ex-boyfriend’s flat in Northampton

A woman who planted a lit gas canister outside her ex-boyfriend’s front door, resulting in a huge fireball explosion, has been jailed for six years.

Lauren Marie Talbot, 39, had initially tried to post the burning butane bottle through the letterbox of her former partner’s Northampton flat, but when this failed she left it on the doorstep before fleeing the scene.

The subsequent blast on 18 June last year blew open two doors, cracked walls and burned the carpet.

Luckily, her ex-partner was not in at the time, although evidence suggested she thought he would be.

Talbot was caught a short time later and charged with arson with intent to endanger life.

She had also previously been charged with setting a series of fires inside her own flat in the town on 21 December 2022.

When fire crews arrived to put the blazes out, they found a message scrawled on the wall which read: “This flat can burn in hell.”

Read more on Sky News:
Dog walkers and pet killed after being hit by BMW
Tributes paid to ‘lovely’ girl found dead along with three others in Norfolk

Talbot pleaded guilty to both offences at Northampton Crown Court in September last year.

She returned to the same court on 16 January, and was sentenced to six years in prison with an extended period of four years.

Detective Constable Roisin Harrison said: “Lauren Talbot’s offending was exceptionally dangerous.

“She could have killed someone as a result of both offences and it’s through sheer luck that no one was injured… the carnage she created when she set that can of butane on fire is extensive.

“It could very easily have ended with a large fire throughout the block of flats, causing untold damage, and I hope this is something she reflects on during her time in prison.”

She added: “I also want to take this opportunity to thank the man in this case who has supported our investigation from the beginning.

“Luckily he was not in his flat that day, but the incident has understandably had a very real effect on him. I hope this result provides him with some semblance of closure.

“I am pleased to see Talbot handed this sentence and I hope it shows how seriously Northamptonshire Police take these kinds of incidents.”