A WOMAN set fire to a disabled toilet in a busy hospital and “did not care what happened” to anyone else in the building.

Smoke and fire billowed out of the facilities in the neuropsychology department of Southampton General Hospital after Emma Scott torched linen and air fresheners with a lighter in a bid to end her life.

Patients and members of the public watched on as staff tried to open the locked door of the toilet and save Scott.

After gaining entry, the 33-year-old was pulled out and saved before being arrested for arson.

Judge Gary Burrell QC told Southampton Crown Court Scott’s actions “could have led to a disaster” if the fire had spread.

The court heard Scott had visited the Tremona Road hospital’s acute medical unit to be examined. However, none of hospital’s mental health team could see her.

Prosecutor Daniel Sawyer said that Scott then went down to the neuropsychology department, on February 5 at 4pm.

He said: “She went into the toilet and locked herself in. She set fire to items which set off the smoke alarm.

“Staff managed to use a coin to open the lock. They had to physically drag the defendant out.”

Mr Sawyer added: “In her interview with the police, Scott was very open and said her brother died and she wanted to be with him.

“She did not think about anyone else. She wanted to die.”

Scott has struggled with psychiatric issues throughout her life.

Since her arrest, Scott has remained in custody, and Elisabeth Bussey-Jones, mitigating, argued that prison had helped settle her down and remove some suicidal thoughts.

Ms Bussey-Jones said an ongoing issue with an ex-partner had made her anxious and that as he was due to be released from jail, Scott “felt safer in prison”.

In sentencing Scott, of no fixed abode, Judge Burrell QC said: “I know that you are very ill and you have had major medical difficulties, and you are on medication that is helping you.

“However, what you did was very serious and could have led to a disaster. I know you did not want to hurt anyone but even so it was a very bad thing to do.”

Scott pleaded guilty to arson.

She was sentenced to 16 months’ imprisonment.