An Arbroath man set fire to his own house, putting himself and his neighbours at risk, after taking legal highs.
John Todd Christie, 55, was jailed for 18 months at Dundee Sheriff Court after admitting wilful fire-raising on September 29 last year.
Christie, now of Bloomfield Road, set fire to his flat, in the middle of the block at 23 Leonard Street, putting himself and his neighbours at risk.
The court heard he set fire to clothes, garments and other items in three separate locations within the flat, causing damage to the flat and danger to the entire block.
Depute fiscal Susan Ruta told the court an investigation carried out by officers from the fire service revealed there had been three separate starting points for the blaze.
She said: “One was in the bathroom where a towel had been set alight, there was one unknown item set on fire on the back of the door and the main fire had taken hold in a hallway cupboard.
“There was no evidence of a naked flame or electrical source which could have caused a fire, which led officers to believe it had been started deliberately.
“Given the three separate locations it is believed the fire had not been started by carelessness but rather on purpose.”
The court heard Christie was not traced at the time of the incident but reported into the Arbroath Police Station on Monday September 30.
Christie pleaded guilty at a previous first diet hearing.
Christie’s defence solicitor told the court that one of the people who were in the flat with him at the time had offered him legal highs which he had taken.
Sheriff Elizabeth Munro sentenced Christie to 18 months in prison.