A TEENAGER sentenced to life after setting her flat on fire in a suicide bid has walked free after judges instead imposed a community penalty.

Claire Carter, 19, was jailed for life at Swindon Crown Court in January.

Judge John McNaught said she must serve a minimum of two years before she could be considered for release.

She lit the fire last August while she was staying at Baileys Farm Gardens in Park North, which is warden controlled hostel accommodation for young people.

She said "Thank you very much" after London's Criminal Appeal Court placed her on a three year community rehabilitation order with conditions including her undergoing psychiatric treatment.

Carter told police she had broken up with her boyfriend and had been very depressed.

She had drunk a large amount of vodka, taken diazepam and paracetamol and cut her wrists before barricading herself in her room.

Mr Justice McCombe said the sentencing judge clearly regarded the psychiatric report as "disturbing". But later reports revealed Carter had made good progress and the risk she posed to the public had been downgraded.