Crime spree ends as woman finally detained indefinitely
A WOMAN who has terrorised a village for years has been indefinitely detained under the Mental Health Act.
Victoria Tunnicliffe was yesterday given a hospital order after police brought an end to her one-woman crimewave.
The hellraiser struck 74 times in four months, either setting fire to bins or slashing car tyres late at night.
Police knew Tunnicliffe was responsible because of her past history of criminal damage, but they needed evidence to prove it.
It was only after bugging her car that detectives could say she was behind the trail of destruction.
At Portsmouth Crown Court yesterday Judge Ian Pearson imposed a restriction order as part of the sentence.
This means she can only be released with the approval of the Home Office.
He said: 'These offences are very serious because you could easily have caused death or serious bodily injury to any number of people.
'You are a significant risk to members of the public.'
Tunnicliffe had targeted villages across the Meon Valley, including Wickham and Waltham Chase, but most of the offences took place in Bishop's Waltham where she'd lived for many years.
Between January and April last year she spiked 40 sets of car tyres and set fire to 34 bins.
One of the worst arson attacks took place in the early hours of April 2.
Tunnicliffe set fire to bins outside Penyards Estate Agents in Cross Street, Bishop's Waltham, and nearly burnt the building down.
She also spiked Phillip White's tyres in Wickham – with potentially fatal consequences.
On his way to London on the M3 both tyres blew out while he was driving and he was forced to haul his car on to the hard shoulder.
Since her arrest in April last year Tunncliffe, previously of Lesser Horseshoe Close, Fareham, has been remanded in a secure mental hospital.
She has admitted a string of arson and criminal damage charges.
Superintendent Phil Winchester said: 'We hope that this result will bring a measure of relief to the residents of Bishop's Waltham and the surrounding area, who have had to endure a great deal of disruption, inconvenience and expensive damage to property.'
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Wednesday 23 May 2012
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