Kirkcaldy businessman Remo Maciocia is being held in a hospital after terrorising his family and starting a fire in his High Street shop.
Earlier this summer, the 58-year-old was seen adding to a fire in his High Street unit, formerly occupied by HSS Hire.
He told emergency services it was to keep his plants warm.
The former boss of the Lang Toun’s Auld Post Hotel appeared from custody at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on Tuesday to admit a string of charges.
His solicitor also admitted three separate charges in his absence the day before.
Maciocia, who is currently the director of The Colloidal Company, a supplement sales firm he founded, is being held at Stratheden Hospital.
Blaze at shop
He admitted that on May 1 this year, he culpably and recklessly ignited a fire in his business premises near Kirkcaldy’s harbour and then added items to the fire, exposing others to risk.
In 2020, Maciocia purchased the long-derelict building and outlined plans to rejuvenate it by means of commercial and residential development.
The scheme has never come to fruition.
Court papers show he lived in an upstairs flat and other flats were occupied in close proximity.
Fiscal depute Claire Bremner said: “The locus is a ground level property .
“At around 11am, a witness walking along Kirkcaldy High Street became aware of a strong smell of burning.
“He walked past the locus and saw the accused coming in and out of the shop entrance and saw a fire in the shop window.”
The witness called 999 and all emergency services arrived.
Maciocia was asked to leave and initially refused.
Firefighters entered and took five minutes to extinguish the flames.
Nobody was injured.
“The accused spoke with police and made various admissions,” Ms Bremner added.
She explained Maciocia told police the fire was “to keep his plants warm.”
He was released by police but arrested the next day.
Terrorised family
Maciocia also admitted two offences against his son.
On April 4 this year, he made an offensive phone call and a week later, slashed the tyres of his car at Deas Wharf.
Maciocia admitted an assault on his elderly father.
On April 17, at Townsend Crescent, he struck the 91-year-old on the head and repeatedly shouted, swore and acted in an aggressive manner towards his father and 89-year-old mother.
Having been ordered to keep away from the couple by police, Maciocia admitted breaching the orders just four days later by returning to the street.
Solicitor Michelle Renton said Maciocia was having “an episode of mania with psychotic symptoms.”
She said since being remanded at the Cupar hospital, he has made “significant improvements.”
Sheriff Elizabeth McFarlane continued his case until August 3 as he continues to receive treatment.
Previous offending towards loved ones
In 2020, Maciocia was stopped by police officers who suspected him of drink-driving after he assaulted his partner.
At Dundee Sheriff Court, he admitted assaulting the woman at the Travelodge on Strathmore Avenue, on January 12 that year by pushing her to the ground and striking her head, to her injury.
He also admitted failing to provide breath specimens without reasonable excuse.
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