63-year-old arsonist Sue Lupton, who set fire to a neighbours car because she believed that badgers he was looking after had killed a fellow neighbours cat, has been handed a 2-year suspended prison sentence.
Susan Lupton – a former local journalist – now of Dairy Crest Drive in Newport, admitted 2 counts of arson back in November 2024 and was today (Tuesday) finally sentenced at the Isle of Wight Crown Court.
It was on 20th June last year, at The Square in Freshwater, that Lupton caused damage to a Land Rover Freelander belonging to one person and a window, toolbox, guttering, cooker extractor and a Japanese Maple Tree belonging to another.
All of the property was damaged beyond repair, with the 4×4 completely gutted by the fire.
Island Echo understands that the vehicle owner has been left around £18,000 out of pocket.
Prosecuting the case, Joanna Staples said that Lupton filled a plastic container with white spirit, lit it and then slid it under the car before watching the flames take hold.
As the fire engulfed the 4×4, the flames spread to a neighbouring property with the vehicle owner attempting to extinguish the blaze with a hose pipe, prior to the arrival of firefighters.
The court heard how Lupton – who moved to the UK from South Africa in 1980 – admitted that she was the perpetrator as soon as Police arrived, telling them in interview that she started the fire in an attempt to kill some badgers she believed had killed a local cat.
Shockingly, the former feature writer also disclosed that a firefighter friend had told her how to start the fire.
Ms Staples went on to say that Lupton had made posts on her Facebook page claiming that the victim was an ‘evil badger man’.
Both victim statements were read aloud in court with those present hearing how Lupton’s actions had ‘far reaching emotional and psychological affects on one victim and that her ‘deviant’ actions had left another ‘on the verge of a breakdown’.
The Land Rover owner claimed Lupton was a ‘sick, twisted and manipulative individual’ who had left him checking his security cameras numerous times a day amid fears she may be on his driveway with some matches.
Lupton has a single conviction for criminal damage on her record.
Defending the mother of 2, Jonathan Underhill told the court that Lupton suffered from bipolar disorder and that after her arrest there were concerns over her fitness to enter a plea. Lupton’s barrister also added that following the incident, his client had been admitted to a mental health facility on 2 separate occasions.
The court heard how Sue Lupton had made considerable progress in regards her mental health since her most recent stay at Sevenacres.
Mr Underhill went on to add that although it was clear a custodial sentence had been passed, a suspended sentence would benefit his client and her ongoing rehabilitation.
His Honour Judge Newton-Price KC said that the victims in the case had suffered a ‘terrifying experience’ and that Lupton had developed a ‘fixation’ with one of the victims and had became ‘irrationally obsessed’.
He handed down a 2-year prison sentence, suspended for 2-years.
Sue Lupton was ordered to pay costs of £1,000 and compensation of £7,835.
A cheque to the value of £7,385 was handed over the vehicle owner following the conclusion of the case, though not by Lupton herself as a result of a restraining order banning her from contacting the victim being imposed.
Lupton has also been banned from the village of Freshwater indefinitely.
So the deranged thing got off, she could have easily killed somebody. Why oh why is mental health always bought into it! Lots and lots of people have mental health problems and bi polar but do not do what she did. She should have been put in prison give her time to sort her mental health out???
Totally agree.
I hope for her neighbours sake that she moved house.
A well known womble toallani.al protection groups ,she will kill somebody she seems a lover of wildlife…A ridiculous sentence for a women who needs help clearly and out of public circulation.
its brought into it because her actions may be symptomatic of a manic episode, fitting in with her diagnosis and hospitalisation? aka it explains her behaviour…….. not every mental health disorder is the same, so no, not everyone with a diagnosis would do this. i fear this is just common sense
South Africans have different ways of dealing with
situations, very worrying.
A serious offence, taken lightly by our so called Judiciary.
Evil witch
I hope Mr Lee declares his £18,385 compensation to the DWP
I am sure someone will let them know, if it slips his mind
In response to the comment by Islander, where to begin….
Firstly Mr Lee is not receiving 18k compensation, he is technically receiving zero compensation. Lupton is merely repaying him for the damage she caused which otherwise he has to cover from his own pocket. She is paying him 7k for his uninsured losses.
Secondly, this money is not taxable or relevant for the purposes of benefits as it to spend on replacement items.
Thirdly, Mr Lee does not in fact claim ESA or universal credit or whatever it is called these days, so good luck grassing him up to the DWP. When I ask the police to look into this matter again, it will just be more evidence that he is being bullied by a group of local people.
Some people should perhaps be more concerned about their own position. This story is in the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail today, with the shocking revelation that Susan Lupton’s fireman friend told her how to set fire to Mr Lee’s car.
I am assuming you and the other person who keep trying to blacken the victim’s name, on various news outlets, are friends of Susan Lupton? Everybody else supports the victim here. I can probably guess your real names. And your occupations.
As I keep saying, the Isle of Wight is completely lawless.
Can’t help thinking that if this was a man and the victim a woman the custodial sentence would not have been suspended. If Ms Lupton is really so mentally ill, should she not have been committed to a secure psychiatric hospital for treatment? I don’t imagine she is going to take any notice of a ban on entering Freshwater if she is happy to research and then commit arson on this scale. She is a danger to the public irrespective of any sympathy people may have for her mental state.