Woman set fire to herself after failing driving test for fourth time

Car learner: Woman was distraught at not passing after 90 lessons.

A woman was so upset at failing her driving test for the fourth time she set herself on fire.

Yamkala Sapkota, 30, had taken 90 lessons and it put extreme financial pressure on the family.

After a fight with her husband when she failed the test the fourth time, she decided to pour white spirit over her clothes and set herself alight in an attempt to take her own life.

The fire was so intense the flat was damaged and Mrs Sapkota put the lives of other people nearby in danger.

Firefighters managed to rescue her but she had 12% burns over her body. Medics examined her and concluded she was not mentally ill at the time.

At the High Court in Edinburgh on Friday, Sapkota, from Edinburgh, pleaded guilty to reckless and culpable conduct before judge Lord Bannatyne.

Prosecution lawyer Stephen O'Rourke told the court Sapkota, a first offender, was extremely upset on June 28 last year.

The court heard her husband worked as a chef and earned very little money. A significant proportion of the cash being brought home was spent on driving lessons for Mrs Sapkota.

Mr O'Rourke said Mrs Sapkota's inability to pass her driving test created tensions between her and her husband which culminated in an argument after she failed the test again.

Mr O'Rourke said: "Her husband told her to 'die if you want'. She was very upset by this and took herself through to the bedroom where she poured white spirit on herself and set herself alight.

"The immediate motivator behind the incident was the fact that the accused had failed to pass her driving test for the fourth time that morning after taking 90 lessons.

"She was very upset by this and an argument followed between her and her husband which led to the comment above. The family's financial circumstances were limited and it appears that the cost of the lessons were significant in that regard.

"Prior to setting herself on fire, the accused had left a suicide note on the living room table in Nepalese which stated that she no longer wished to live."

Mr O'Rourke said after setting herself alight, firefighters came to the flat and saved her life.

Mr O'Rourke added: "As a result of her actions, the accused suffered 12% burns to her face, head, neck, shoulder, right arm and back.

"The accused has an operation involving debridement and grafting of burns on her right arm, right forearm and dorsum right hand.

"She was initially admitted to the accident and emergency department at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary then transferred to the intensive care unit at St John's Hospital in Livingston then eventually transferred back to the Royal for full psychiatric assessment.

"In total she was in hospital for just under two months and was ultimately diagnosed as not suffering from any mental illness."

Lord Bannatyne deferred sentence on Sapkota in order for reports. She will be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh later this month.

Defence advocate Sarah Livingstone told Lord Bannatyne that she would explain her client's behaviour at that hearing.

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