A teenage firestarter who risked the lives of a mum and two children after sparking a vengeful £23,000 Brechin flat blaze was led in tears to detention.
David Ramsay just 17 at the time, had a grudge against the man who lived in the flat below the family and set fire to a mattress in the property in a midnight raid, which he then boasted to pals about as emergency services raced to the scene.
Fortunately, the occupants of the flat above were almost immediately alerted to the danger by the wail of a fire alarm and they escaped unhurt, but Ramsay was told the outcome was entirely down to their good fortune as a sheriff imposed an “inevitable” period in a young offenders institution.
Ramsay, 19, of Smalls Square, Brechin, appeared for sentence before Sheriff Kevin Veal at Forfar on Thursday, having previously admitted an indictment of wilful fireraising in Montrose Street, Brechin, on September 19 or 20 last year, to the danger of others and whilst on bail.
Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson said the flat’s occupant and the accused were known to each other, but Ramsay had become angry about the complainer and told friends he wanted to “batter him”.
Shortly after midnight, neighbours heard a disturbance at the flat and saw the accused and associates kicking at the door of the property.
The court heard the tenant was hiding in a nearby close because he was frightened of Ramsay.
Soon after, firefighters were called to the flat and found the seat of the blaze to be in a bedroom.
The fire had not spread but the fiscal said there was significant smoke damage to the property, with total damage to the council-owned flat coming in at £23,500.
Occupants of surrounding flats also had to be evacuated during the firefighting operation.
The depute fiscal said associates of Ramsay had told police he had firstly trashed the flat and then set fire to the mattress, but the accused denied any involvement when interviewed.
Defence agent Nick Markowski said Ramsay had been aware from the outset that his liberty was on the line.
“He has a very limited recollection of events he was under the influence of drink and drugs at the time,” said Mr Markowski.
“He was just 17 at the time and has a history of psychiatric difficulties, but has been engaging with the community mental health team.
He apologises and realises that because of good luck, and nothing else, that the neighbour and her children heard the alarm immediately.”
Sheriff Veal told Ramsay: “Any offence of wilful fireraising must be regarded as serious by the courts and in this case there was potential for serious damage and serious injury in an incident which occurred in the early hours of the morning.”
He imposed a 10-month detention on Ramsay.