A woman who recklessly set fire to her home in Gillingham has been slammed with a hefty jail sentence. Amie Bray, 32, sparked a blaze in her Copenhagen Road flat late at night, putting nearby residents’ lives in danger.
Deliberate Fire in Residential Block
On the evening of 5 May 2025, Bray deliberately started a fire at around 11pm. Emergency crews rushed to the scene after neighbours raised the alarm. The fire posed a huge risk, especially as most residents were asleep.
Assaults During Arrest
Things turned ugly when Bray resisted arrest. While being detained, she kicked a police officer and later slapped another while in custody. She faced two assault charges alongside the arson offence.
Jail Sentence: 40 Months Behind Bars
Bray pleaded guilty at Maidstone Crown Court on 20 March 2026. She was handed 28 months for arson, two months concurrent for assaulting officers, plus an extra year for breaching a suspended sentence. Altogether, she’ll serve 40 months behind bars.
Detective Sergeant Emily Matthews said: “Bray’s reckless attempt to deliberately cause a fire in her flat put other residents’ lives at risk, and it is right that she should face the consequences of her actions. Fires can quickly get out of control, especially in a block of flats at night when people are asleep. Her neighbours will certainly feel safer now she is behind bars.”
