A WOMAN who terrorised a quiet Hampshire village for 13 years has been sent to a secure psychiatric unit.

Victoria Tunnicliffe, pictured, has been given a 12- week interim hospital order allowing mental health specialists to assess her further, after she admitted a string of offences.

The 31-year-old wreaked havoc across the Meon Valley during a prolific campaign of arson and tyre-slashing, at one point committing a staggering 74 offences in just four months.

A pre-school was among Tunnicliffe’s many targets during her one-woman crimewave, which centred around the village of Bishop’s Waltham, where she lived for many years.

Under cover of darkness, she set fire to 34 bins, including one which nearly caused an estate agents in the village to burn down.

One victim of her tyre-slashing, from Wickham, had a lucky escape when two of the tyres on his car blew out as he drove along the M3.

Tunnicliffe, who has convictions for antisocial behaviour stretching back to 1995, appeared at Portsmouth Crown Court yesterday for sentencing.

She had previously pleaded guilty to a total of 15 counts of arson, nine of criminal damage, and one each of arson and criminal damage reckless as to whether life was endangered.

Judge Ian Pearson said he was satisfied with reports suggesting that Tunnicliffe, of Lesser Horseshoe Close, Fareham, should be sent to a secure unit in West Sussex.

She will now be assessed by doctors for three months, before appearing back before Judge Pearson on March 26, when she could be returned to hospital or sent to jail.