A Fife fireraiser has been jailed after one blaze spread and scorched the side of a house.
Robert Gunn torched a car and set a rubbish bin alight less than three weeks later.
The 31-year-old pled guilty to the two offences of wilful fireraising in Ballingry’s Cleikimin Crescent.
On March 28 this year he set fire to a car, which caused damage to the vehicle.
On April 17 he set fire to the contents of a rubbish bin next to another house in the street.
The fire took effect and caused extensive damage to bins, scorched the side wall of the house and melted plastic guttering.
The latter offence was aggravated by involving abuse of his partner or ex-partner under section one of the Abusive Behaviour and Sexual Harm (Scotland) Act 2016.
‘Nightmare’
Gunn appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court for sentencing via video link from Perth Prison.
Sheriff Grant McCulloch told him both offences were “quite disgraceful” and “significant damage” was caused to the car.
The sheriff said Gunn had an “erroneous belief” about the correct ownership of the vehicle and setting fire to it caused “significant stress and worry” to the occupants of the house.
Sheriff McCulloch said he had seen a victim impact statement from one of the occupants, who said she “found the whole thing a nightmare and surreal experience” and is still concerned about what might happen.
The sheriff told him: “You must realise your behaviour has had a significant and ongoing impact on other people.”
The sheriff said there was a risk of the fire in the bin spreading to other properties and it was fortunate no-one was hurt.
Sheriff McCulloch jailed Gunn for a total of 22 months, backdated to April 21 when he was remanded in custody over the matter.
‘Off the rails’
Defence lawyer Alexander Flett said Gunn knew the car and house were both unoccupied at the time of the offences.
The solicitor said Gunn was someone with “fairly limited” previous convictions which are all summary matters and he has never previously served a custodial sentence.
Mr Flett said the death of Gunn’s father led to him going “significantly off the rails” and misusing substances and alcohol.
The lawyer said: “This has ultimately led to the offence for which he appears.”
