A drunken mourner who torched a family car after an Angus funeral is facing a jail sentence.
Liam Simpson had already drunk a “large amount” of alcohol when he went to a house in Montrose’s Christie’s Lane looking for more booze.
But he was told to leave after a fall out with the occupants, who soon after smelled burning and then heard the windows of their Chrysler Voyager smashing as the people-carrier’s interior was consumed by flames.
Simpson will be sentenced next month, but is already serving a 280-day term and was warned by Sheriff Gregor Murray that he is facing further custody.
The 24-year-old, now of Burghead, Elgin but a resident of Montrose at the time of the incident, admitted an indictment alleging wilfully setting fire to the 52-plate car on May 2, and behaving in a threatening manner on the same date by threatening to set fire to a property.
At Forfar Sheriff Court, depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson said the accused had been at the funeral of a family friend that day at around 10pm and was at a house opposite where the car was parked.
An argument broke out and witnesses went out and told Simpson to calm down.
“He then went into their house and asked them for a drink. There was a short argument and he left,” added the fiscal.
The female householder then picked up the smell of burning and when she went out could see that the rear window of the car had been smashed and the interior was ablaze.
“A light tea towel was stuffed within the exhaust,” added Ms Robertson, who said the £2,000 vehicle suffered extensive damage before the blaze was extinguished by firefighters called to the scene.
Simpson had been heard to say: “I just came out of the nick and I set fire to a car down the road. Where is it you stay, I’ll set fire to your house.”
Defence solicitor Nick Markwoski told the court the oil industry worker recognised the seriousness of the charge and the likely outcome.
“He received a custodial sentence of 282 days on March 10 in relation to multiple summary complaint matters,” said the solicitor.
“Reports will be required although it’s inevitable that there will be a custodial sentence in this case.”