Woman charged with arson and spitting at emergency workers following fire at Sheffield Cathedral

Police were called to Sheffield Cathedral on Church Street shortly after 6.30pm after South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue reported that a window had been smashed at the rear of the building before bags of clothing had been set alight in the Domino Hall. The clothing was donated to the charity to give to people living rough in the city.

The Cathedral Archer Project, which is based at the rear of the Cathedral on Campo Lane, had been using the multi-purpose room to prepare around 200 meals a day for vulnerable people who have been taken off the streets and placed into accommodation because of coronavirus.

The damage has left the Archer Project temporarily unable to provide help to those in the city who are still homeless with nowhere left to go for support.

A 40-year-old woman from Sheffield, who was arrested close to the scene on suspicion of arson and burglary, has since been charged with arson, recklessness endangerment, burglary, and two counts of assaulting an emergency worker.

Nicola Law, of no fixed address, is alleged to have spat at two police officers while in custody.

She has been remanded in custody to appear before Magistrates today (Saturday 16 May) after being charged on Friday night.