Care home worker who murdered resident by setting light to her room is jailed
A care home worker obsessed with fire who murdered a 96-year-old resident by setting light to her room has been given 14 life sentences after being convicted of murder.
Karen Pedley, 43, was found guilty of the murder of resident Gladys Rowe, and 12 counts of arson, at Truro Crown Court on Thursday.
The court had heard Pedley became “fascinated with fire” after saving her family from a burning house aged 10.
She was hailed a hero at the time for discovering the blaze, and even won a flight on Concorde as a thank you.
The prosecution argued that this started a lifelong fascination with fire, which ended with tragic results.
Mr Justice Teare sentenced Pedley, of Park Stenak, Carharrack, Cornwall to life imprisonment on Friday, and fixed a minimum term of 27 years imprisonment.
Pedley had started the blaze at Rosewyn House care home in Alverton Terrace, Truro in November 2008, while she was employed there. Mrs Rowe died in hospital a week after the blaze as a result of smoke inhalation.
The jury acquitted Pedley of the attempted murder of Olive Ray, also a resident of Rosewyn House at the time of the fire.
But she was convicted of four other offences linked to the Rosewyn House fire and a further eight arson-related incidents at other premises.
These charges relate to fires at Trefula House Nursing Home in St Day in 2002, Carharrack social club in 2006, three charges in connection with fires at the Seafarers’ Centre in Falmouth in 2007 and blazes in 2010 at residential properties in Hayle and Carharrack.
Detective Inspector Ben Beckerleg, who led the murder inquiry, said:”This has been an incredibly difficult time for Gladys Rowe’s family, and throughout the investigation of Mrs Rowe’s death and the subsequent trial they have conducted themselves with great dignity and courage.
“Pedley’s conviction reveals the truth in relation to the cause of the fire at Rosewyn Care Home and fully vindicates the owners of any wrongdoing.
“I would like to thank all of the members of the public and the emergency services who contributed towards this complex investigation.”
He added: “We are satisfied that Pedley has been found guilty of these additional arson offences, any of which could have had equally tragic results, and which exposed innocent members of the public to great risk of harm.
“The impact of these offences cannot be underestimated, including the damage to businesses and livelihoods that resulted.”
Copyright (c) Press Association Ltd. 2016, All Rights Reserved. Picture (c) Devon & Cornwall Police.
