A self-confessed “useless arsonist” has admitted setting fire twice to a shed annexe of a Dundee newsagent with a home-made flame thrower because they sold him an electric cigarette that did not work.
Jonathan Wishart, 26, sought revenge for being sold the faulty item by setting fire to the shed on two occasions, causing damage to the Barnhill shop.
Wishart, of Strathmore Street, called emergency services himself, before admitting at the scene he was the one “that done it”.
At Dundee Sheriff Court on Monday he pleaded guilty to wilfully setting fire to a shed at Zaveris Newsagent on Abercromby Street, on November 30 and again on Saturday.
Depute fiscal Vicky Bell said: “He admitted both charges and described himself as a useless arsonist.
“For the first fire Wishart lit a bag and ran away. On the second occasion he used an aerosol can and a lighter to make a flame thrower to set alight a bag at the shed.
“He told police his second attempt had worked better. He said he had bought an electronic cigarette from the shop but it was broken and he decided to burn the newsagents for something to do.
“When charged he said he was sorry and wouldn’t do it again.”
An agent for Wishart said this was the first time he had come before the courts.
Sheriff Alistair Brown, deferring sentence for background and psychiatric reports until January 15, said he would grant him bail and placed him on a curfew condition that Wishart remained in his home address from 7pm to 7am.
Shop owner Naeem Zaveri said he was largely unaware of why Wishart had targeted his property.
He said: “It was just one bit of the shed but we were lucky someone called the fire brigade before it spread.
“It could have been worse. I got a shock. You don’t expect these things to happen in Barnhill, it is a very good area.”