A WOMAN who tried to petrol bomb a home with two children inside has been jailed for almost a decade.

Talisa Windsor, of Amberley Drive in Hangleton, was found guilty of attempted arson reckless as to endanger life.

The 30-year-old was jailed for six years, including a further three years on extended licence at Chichester Crown Court.

Windsor was caught on CCTV at 6.35pm on Tuesday, May 11 last year, pouring 3.7 litres of petrol, which she had stolen from a nearby petrol station, around the front door of a house in Moyne Close, Hove.

She attempted to set the petrol alight by filling a broken bottle with petrol and tissue and throwing it at the door, but the crude petrol bomb failed to ignite.

Windsor also tried to throw a brick through a front window.

Police were called after people reported the smell of petrol and saw Windsor filling the bottle with petrol nearby.

The Argus: Windsor was caught with the crude petrol bomb on a front door cameraWindsor was caught with the crude petrol bomb on a front door camera

She was soon arrested while officers visited the Moyne Close address to check on the family inside, who had escaped.

Windsor was also caught on CCTV stealing the petrol and carrying out the attack.

It was later revealed Windsor had sent a number of threatening messages to the occupants, who were known to her, in the days leading up to the incident - including several death threats.

She was charged with attempted arson with intent to endanger life, remanded in custody and in October was found guilty of attempted arson reckless as to endangering life by a jury.

Investigating officer DC Rose Horan said: “This was an extremely disturbing incident which threatened the lives of a family with two young children, who were inside the house when Talisa Windsor attempted to set it alight.

“CCTV showed that the cigarette lighter did ignite, so it was extremely lucky that the 3.7L of petrol around the front door did not go up in flames. Had that happened, we could have been looking at a tragic outcome.

“Nonetheless, his Honour Judge Trimmer found Windsor met the criteria for a dangerous offender and passed an extended sentence.

“I would like to thank the victims, witnesses and everybody who supported the investigation for their help in bringing a dangerous individual to justice.”

Have you got a story for us? Email news@theargus.co.uk or contact us here.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with all the latest news.

Sign up to our newsletter to get updates sent straight to your inbox.

You can also call us on 01273 021 400.