A man who set fire to a sofa after drinking lager and vodka and taking valium has avoided a jail term.
Kamil Murzynowski, 35, originally from Montrose but now living in Inverness, originally appeared on petition following the incident in the Angus town’s New Wynd on August 6 2014.
The flat was the home of a 39-year-old Polish man who was sitting alone when he heard a disturbance before his door was kicked off its hinges.
He did not see the person responsible but immediately jumped out the window of the ground-floor flat and made his way to a friend’s house.
Murzynowski was seen entering the flat and 10 minutes later smoke was seen billowing from the window.
The complainer then returned home and managed to extinguish the fire before police were called.
First offender Murzynowski was traced and admitted forcing open the door and setting fire to the sofa.
Sheriff Pino Di Emidio imposed a community payback order for 130 hours of unpaid work to be carried out within a year.
He told him: “This was a very serious matter.
“It is fortunate for you that the fire you set was put out very quickly.”
Murzynowski had no previous convictions or experience of a courtroom.
The sheriff had previously admitted to being “perplexed” by the lack of explanation given by Murzynowski over his involvement in the crime.
Co-accused Kevin Hutcheon, 29, of Davidson Place, St Cyrus, who appeared on the same indictment, was convicted of assault and bail offences.
He was convicted of assaulting a man on August 6 2014 at Castle Street in Montrose by placing his hands on his neck, pushing his neck and striking him on the body whilst on bail.
The sheriff imposed a community payback order for a period of a year with a requirement to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work.