Brazilian is spared jail in West Hampstead fire prank

Published: 3:58 PM July 9, 2010

Updated: 1:29 PM October 14, 2020

A BIKE shop assistant manager sobbed as she was spared jail for a fire prank which left her bosses in West Hampstead with a �400,000 bill. Rafaela Schneider, 26, thought she had stamped out the flames after she and colleague Ezra Sprules, 41, put a light

A BIKE shop assistant manager sobbed as she was spared jail for a fire prank which left her bosses in West Hampstead with a �400,000 bill.

Rafaela Schneider, 26, thought she had stamped out the flames after she and colleague

Ezra Sprules, 41, put a lighter to a cardboard box for a laugh after hours.

But the smouldering litter re-ignited after they left and a blaze tore through the basement and ground floor of Cycle Surgery. Brazilian Schneider, of Lowther Road, Bournemouth, Dorset, admitted arson and was sentenced to 100 hours of unpaid community work.

Mr Sprules was cleared following a trial.