My neighbour burned like fireball outside Rowley Regis home, court told
A woman has spoken of her horror as she looked out her bedroom window to see her neighbour on fire.
Damion Sheldon, aged 42, of Russells Hall Road, Dudley, is accused of pouring petrol over ex-girlfriend Louise Pilkington and setting her alight outside her home in Rowley Regis.
He appeared at Wolverhampton Crown Court yesterday for the third day of his trial. He is charged with attempted murder and causing grievous bodily harm with intent.
Yesterday, the jury heard from Stacey Bissell, who lived across from Miss Pilkington in the early hours of December 2.
She told the court how she had looked out of her window when she heard 'screaming and banging'.
She also described her shock as she saw a 13-month-old baby rescued from inside the house, who later needed to be resuscitated.
Giving her evidence from behind a curtain and at times fighting back tears, Miss Bissell said she had been able to see Miss Pilkington's Haden Walk house and flames through her bedroom window.
She added: "I saw the woman open the door and run out and she was on fire.
"It was like a fireball. It was mostly her hair."
Miss Bissell said the woman, Miss Pilkington, had run to the next door garden where she tried to put the flames out.
She added: "She dropped and rolled and she had taken off her clothes because they were on fire. She was screaming for help."
Miss Bissell told how she came outside to see neighbours try to get inside the house to rescue a 13-month-old baby trapped inside.
She said: "Someone smashed the window but the smoke came rushing out the window so they couldn't do anything until the fire brigade came."
The jury was previously told by prosecutor Hugh O'Brien Quinn that the baby was rescued by firefighters.
Miss Bissell said: "I'd been quite calm – just proactive up until then."
A nine-year-old also inside at the time managed to escape.
Earlier in the day, fire investigator Jason Dean told jurors how the fire spread through the hallway of the house and set alight 'like a mushroom'.
Pictures shown to the jury showed severe fire damage to the house front door and hallway as well as soot which had spread in the kitchen and downstairs lounge.
They also showed a damaged nightgown worn by Miss Pilkington, who suffered burns to 16 per cent of her body, and a four-and-a-half litre green petrol container.
The trial continues.
