Teenager facing prison after admitting Strathmartine Hospital fire

A teenage fire raiser who torched part of a listed Dundee hospital is facing jail after admitting deliberately setting it alight.

Aaron Beveridge paid a late-night visit to the former Strathmartine Hospital with a friend in June 2013and his action almost brought it to the ground.

The building had been repeatedly targeted by vandals but none wreaked the level of damage achieved by the 19-year-old, of the city’s Teviotdale Avenue.

As he admitted setting the fire, Forfar Sheriff Court heard he had been spotted fleeing the burning building and quickly apprehended by police officers.

He was smelling strongly of smoke and was wearing gloves and a balaclava.

Sentence was deferred and Bereridge told that, first offender or not, imprisonment is a very real possibility.

See more in Thursday’s edition of The Courier.