Pauline Berikoff, 54, was given one year in prison yesterday for setting her clothes on fire at the Grand Forks RCMP detachment March 2.

Yesterday's conviction stemmed from the arrests of two other Sons of Freedom women, Tina Jmaeff and Mary Braun in Grand Forks.

"She said she wanted to join the ladies in the back," RCMP clerk Elaine Todd testified. Todd said Berikoff stripped to her underpants and set her clothes on fire in the RCMP foyer, then she removed her underpants and lit them too, before police were called.

NELSON - She said she burnt her clothes to join her "sisters" in prison.

And the judge obliged.

Pauline Berikoff, 54, was given one year in prison yesterday for setting her clothes on fire at the Grand Forks RCMP detachment March 2.

"It gives me no pleasure to sentence someone of your age," provincial court Judge Don Carlgren said. "But the sentence must be lengthy to prevent recurrence. You are a criminal because of your religious views, which clash with this society."

Berikoff, who was wheeled into the courtroom on an office chair, was nude under the blanket wrapped around her.

She is a member of the Sons of Freedom, a Doukhobor sect, who believe arson is a form of cleansing.

Court heard she has now been convicted of eight arson-related offences since 1978.

Yesterday's conviction stemmed from the arrests of two other Sons of Freedom women, Tina Jmaeff and Mary Braun in Grand Forks.

Asrsonists Braun and Jmaeff were on parole, which had been revoked.

"She said she wanted to join the ladies in the back," RCMP clerk Elaine Todd testified. Todd said Berikoff stripped to her underpants and set her clothes on fire in the RCMP foyer, then she removed her underpants and lit them too, before police were called.

"If she wants to be back with her sisters it's only appropriate the court grant her wish," said Crown council Dana Urban.

Berikoff refused to defend herself.

"These people here don't understand our history," she told the court in Russian, translated by an interpreter.

"No one has answered for the lives we've lost in Canada."

Supporters filled the courtroom and one woman stripped in protest after sentencing.