A FORMER teacher who set fire to her lover's cycle shop in Wellington has received a two-year supervision order.

The order was imposed on Elaine Verrin by Judge Graham Hume Jones at Taunton Crown Court last Wed-nesday, although she did not attend.

Verrin had not pleaded to any charge and was not convicted of any offence because she was too ill, but at an earlier hearing the court found that she had caused the fire.

She was charged with arson with intent to endanger life following an incident on July 8 last year.

But the hearing collapsed after a psychiatrist said Verrin, who suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder, was ruled not well enough for the case to continue.

The trial was abandoned for a psychiatric report.

The court had heard how a fire had broken out in a flat belonging to businessman and her ex-partner Dennis King, in Cornhill, in the early hours.

Verrin admitted being in the building but denied starting the blaze.

The court heard that Verrin had suffered with mental health problems since being assaulted by a pu-pil.

Verrin and Mr King stayed in contact after their two-year relationship ended in early 2005 and on July 6 Verrin stayed at his flat.

The court was told they made plans for the evening but when Mr King did not return, Verrin became distressed.

At about 10pm she saw three members of staff in the shop and asked if they knew where he was.

Alan Large, prosecuting, said: "She was upset and is reported to have said 'I don't know where he is - sometimes I feel like burning the place down'."

She later discovered Mr King had been staying at his bungalow in Teignmouth, Devon, with another woman.

She drove to see him and after a row returned to Wellington where she was seen on a CCTV camera going into the flat and then leaving minutes later, followed by smoke coming out of the building.

Mr Large said that on her arrest she claimed there was no sign of fire when she left, but she had spilt some blue liquid on the carpet to get back at him as a "petty gesture". She said she had also smoked a cigarette.

Forensic evidence showed traces of white spirit on a yellow cap found in her fleece pocket.

She said she would not have set fire to the flat because she knew it meant everything to Mr King.

Verrin had denied arson, damaging by fire King's Cycle Shop and intending to destroy or damage such property.