Woman Jailed for Setting Friend on Fire During Drunken Dispute

Corbie Jean Walpole, 24, from Howlong, NSW, has been sentenced to 7.5 years in prison for setting her long-time friend, Jake Loader, on fire after a night of heavy drinking. The shocking incident occurred on January 7, 2024, following a heated argument where Loader reportedly made a sexist remark.

“He told me to go to the kitchen because I’m a girl,” Walpole testified.

Fuelled by alcohol and drugs, Walpole poured petrol over Loader and ignited him with a lighter, causing third-degree burns to 55% of his body. Loader spent over two months in a burns unit and underwent 10 surgeries.

Though Walpole later expressed remorse and claimed emotional distress, the court rejected her defense. Judge Jennifer English described the act as “unprovoked and particularly violent.”

“It will affect the rest of my life,” Loader said in his victim impact statement.

Walpole, who had a prior assault conviction, will be eligible for parole in November 2029. The case serves as a harrowing reminder of how alcohol, violence, and unresolved emotions can destroy lives.