A “reckless” fireraiser who “accidentally” destroyed a sewage pumping station in Dundee has escaped a jail sentence.
Dean Yeats, 25, of Montrose Road in Forfar, caused more than half-a-million pounds’ worth of damage when he discarded a lit piece of paper and caused the huge blaze on February 16. Sheriff Alastair Carmichael veered away from a prison sentence at Dundee Sheriff Court, telling him the offence was “in the realms of a custodial sentence” but that Yeats needed treatment.
He placed him on a community payback order under supervision for two years with compulsory drug and alcohol treatment and mental health treatment requirements.
At the time, Yeats told onlookers: “It was me — I didn’t mean it,” as the flames engulfed the King George V pumping station in the docks area.
The court heard he said he had set fire to a piece of paper and thrown it on to the pumping station — starting the enormous blaze that was visible from all over the city.
Depute fiscal Nicola Gillespie said firefighters found Yeats standing just feet from the blaze and had to wrestle him away as he threw items including paving slabs and bottles at the fire.
Ms Gillespie added that the pumping station was completely destroyed at a cost of around £550,000.
She said: “The accused was seen near a concrete platform carrying two bags and a bottle of Buckfast and a member of the public who saw him thought he had no reason to be there.
“Soon after another member of the public saw the locus on fire.
“It was a large fire starting to take effect on the roof and he called 999.
“The accused was shouting, ‘no, no, no,’ and went towards the fire.
“The accused then approached a member of the public and said: ‘It was me, I didn’t mean it’.”
Yeats admitted the charge of culpable and reckless fireraising at the dock area on February 16 this year.
Solicitor Craig Scott said: “He can offer no explanation other than that he accidentally discarded something that he had already lit and the consequences, to put it mildly, were exceptionally unfortunate.
“He suffers from a form of drug-induced psychosis and is engaging with professionals in relation to that.
“He’s aware he must be punished.However, it is clear he has issues and requires treatment for them.”
Sheriff Carmichael said: “This was a serious matter and a lot of damage was done. That puts it in the realms of a custodial disposal.
“However, I have to see what alternatives are available.
“The reports tell me you need treatment and you have started taking steps towards that.”
https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/man-buckfast-set-off-huge-fire-visible-miles-throwing-lit-paper-onto-dundee-pumping-station/
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