Broome woman Maude Dixon pleads guilty to lighting historic primary school and prison cell on fire on the same day

The prison escapee who caused millions of dollars of damage when she set fire to a primary school soon after torching her Broome cell to break out has admitted to both her arson attacks. Maude Dixon, 22, pictured right, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal damage by fire and escaping from custody recently, in relation to the incident earlier this year, described by community members as one of the darkest days in the town’s history. The woman set fire to a mattress in her cell to cause a diversion to escape from Broome Regional Prison on January 12, where she was remanded in custody for breaches of violence restraining orders. Dixon then set fire to an entire block of Broome Primary School at 4pm, causing about $5 million of damage to a school that dates back 121 years, with four classrooms, a meeting room, and a storeroom all reduced to ashes. She laughed and held up the peace symbol with her hand to stunned onlookers when she first appeared in court the next day. BPS principal Jared Lawson said at the time, teachers, parents and the 400 students on the roll were heartbroken because of the school’s rich history and the close community connection to it. Affected pupils were forced to attend neighbouring primary schools for their return to school in February, before transportable classrooms were trucked in to cater for the cohort. Dixon appeared via video link from Bandyup Women’s Prison in Perth last Monday, where she pleaded guilty to all charges. She also pleaded guilty to three counts of violence restraining order breaches, which stemmed from incidents in late December, as well as damaging a window at a Department of Communities property and a Kia Rio hatchback. Dixon will next appear in the District Court on June 3, followed by a further appearance in the Broome Magistrate’s Court on June 8 for sentencing.