A KNIFE-WIELDING schizophrenic who torched her neighbour’s car and threw petrol at him as he tried to douse the flames has been sentenced to a secure Hospital Order.

Michelle Duggan drew a large crowd to Melton Terrace, Ravenscliffe, Bradford, when she terrorised her neighbours with two large knives and a petrol can on the afternoon of March 12.

Duggan, 48, whose severe mental illness was compounded by a history of drug and alcohol misuse, pleaded guilty to affray, reckless arson, attempting to cause Jacek Raczylo grievous bodily harm and criminal damage to a satellite dish belonging to Magdalena Mizia.

Prosecutor Alisha Kaye told Bradford Crown Court that, at 2.15pm, Duggan was seen knocking on an upstairs window at her home while holding a large knife. She pointed the blade at Mr Raczylo, 37, and then held it to her throat in a threatening gesture.

Duggan then appeared in her garden with two knives and a petrol can. She poured the fuel on Mr and Mrs Raczylo’s garden table and kicked Miss Mizia’s front door. She tried to push a rag through Miss Mizia’s letter box, pulled up a fence post and struck the satellite dish, doing £100 damage.

Duggan then lit the rag with a cigarette lighter, threw it at Mr Raczylo’s £6,000 Honda Civic vehicle and chased after Miss Mizia with a knife.

Mr Raczylo tried to put out the fire with his hands while his wife ran for a bucket of water, the court was told.

Duggan then threw petrol at Mr Raczylo and his dog that was trying to protect him.

Miss Kaye said that, fortunately, she missed them and ran off with the knives, chasing after members of the public she came across. A large group of people were now watching as Duggan returned to barricade herself in her home with a sofa bed. She was arrested at the address and said Mr and Mrs Raczylo had been threatening her. She admitted pouring petrol on the car and said she threw more fuel at a bush.

Mr Raczylo was treated in hospital for four burned fingers and had to take time off work.

Duggan’s criminal record, stretching from 1985, included burglary, shop theft, criminal damage, arson, assaulting a police officer and threatening behaviour. She had previously been made the subject of a Hospital Order.

The court was told that Duggan had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. Her mental health had deteriorated and she was suffering from a”severe” disorder. Because she had used accelerant to commit arson she posed a very significant risk of serious harm to herself and the public.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC, said it was “a very sad case” and told her: “You have pleaded guilty to very serious offences all arising from your illness and your misunderstanding of good neighbours.”

The court heard that Duggan was now a patient at Newton Lodge Hospital.