Heroic hotel porter saved women’s life after she set fire to her room, court hears

A HOTEL night porter saved a woman's life after she set fire to her room and then passed out in the choking smoke, a court heard today.

Teresa Butler, 24, appeared 'dead to the world' when porter Ryan Jones went into her room at the Orchard Hotel in Quedgeley, the city crown court was told.

Mr Jones is now to receive a £250 High Sheriff's reward for his courage.

Butler, of Gloucester Road in Hartpury, pleaded guilty to arson being reckless whether life was endangered by setting fire to room 49 at the Orchard hotel on October 29 last year.

Prosecutor Julian Kesner said Butler arrived at the hotel at around midnight with two bottles of alcohol.

She was in an emotional state and began "offloading her troubles to the night porter," Mr Kesner said.

Mr Jones later entered the room at around 5am to discover a blaze in one corner.

"The footstool had been set alight," said Mr Kesner. "It was plastic so quite toxic and Mr Jones says that every time he took a breath he could barely breathe due to the level of the smoke.

"Mr Jones found Miss Butler laid face down on the bed 'dead to the world'. When he couldn't rouse her he acted quickly and dragged her out of the room. He more than likely saved her life."

The court heard that Butler was at the time subject to a suspended jail term for dangerous driving and driving over the limit.

Steve Young, defending, said: "Miss Butler is a troubled young lady. But she has a strong support network with her father and brother present in court today."

The hotel was a modern building, well equipped with fire protection, so the likelihood of it spreading and harming anyone else was slim, her solicitor said.

The fact that her room door was locked "suggests who she was really trying to harm," he added.

Judge Jamie Tabor QC told Butler: "Sometimes a judge has to decide whether someone should be punished or pitied.

"If I punished you, you would receive three years prison, minimum. I think you are an unfortunate young woman who has been crippled with an illness.

"No one has suggested you intended to injure anyone but yourself - but you did put other lives at risk. Fortunately this was a modern hotel so the fire was contained.

"Something triggered an illness in you. Severe depression is a horrible illness, it is debilitating. You were self-medicating with alcohol to relieve symptoms which is absolutely the worst thing you could do.

"I am confident you have a strong support network around you.

"I have to pass a prison sentence and that will be two years but it will be suspended for two years.

“You will be required to complete 25 days rehabilitation activity and will be subject to a curfew of 9pm-6am for nine months.

"This is so your parents can keep an eye on you. You will also pay costs of £250 towards the prosecution."

Judge Tabor also warned Butler that although he is convinced imprisonment would be the worse place for her that is where she will have to go if she re-offends in the next two years because he would have no alternative but to activate her sentence.

Judge Tabor concluded by commending Mr Jones for his bravery.

"He dragged her out of a smoke-filled room, this woman owes her life to him" said the judge.

"I am going to speak to the High Sheriff and recommend she pays him a £250 reward for his courage."