A Newburgh man nearly caused an explosion after he set his own car on fire in an apparently motiveless incident.
Kieran O’Conner caused hundreds of pounds worth of damage to two other vehicles, as well as the council-owned car park in which he had parked.
Emergency service experts said that were it not for the speedy arrival of fire crews then the 20-year-old’s red MG could have exploded.
Fiscal depute Rebecca Kynaston told Perth Sheriff Court: “The locus was Back Wynd, Perth, in the Perth and Kinross Council pay and display car park.
“At 12.45pm a Mr Maloney returned to his address. He looked out and saw the accused and another at the car park. He saw the accused punching at, and the other person kicking, the car window and formed the opinion they were trying to break into the vehicle.”
She said Mr Maloney had called the police before returning to watch the pair in the car park.
She continued: “He saw the accused walk to a rubbish bin, pick up some of the contents and return to the car. He then saw flames within.”
O’Conner then left the scene but later traced by police.
Ms Kynaston added: “The accused’s vehicle was well alight by the time police arrived and was making cracking and popping noises as if it was about to explode.
“The police and fire service were both of the opinion that the car would have exploded if the fire service had not been able to attend so quickly.”
An Audi A3 Sport and a Citroen Berlingo van, which had been parked on either side of O’Conner’s vehicle at the time of the fire, were damaged.
Solicitor Cliff Culley, representing O’Conner, said: “it’s a very serious matter and could have been a pretty grave situation, and he is aware of that.
“It’s somewhat bizarre – there doesn’t seem to be any motive. He’s very remorseful and ashamed.”
O’Conner , of Abbey Road, Newburgh, had previously admitted wilfully and culpably setting fire to the vehicles on June 13.
Sheriff Fiona Tait told O’ Conner that the offence could “easily warrant a custodial sentence”.
She sentenced O’Conner to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work and made him the subject of a curfew and supervision order.
He was also told to pay compensation to the owners of both damaged cars and to Perth and Kinross Council.