A homeless man who risked torching a Perth landmark when he started a fire for warmth has been told his life will remain in flux until he seeks help for his alcohol addiction.
Perth Sheriff Court heard David Mersh had fallen into trouble through a combination of excessive drinking and dabbling in the speculative currency market.
The 38-year-old had been sleeping rough in the A-listed but neglected Barnhill Tollhouse on the edge of Perth for about three weeks when he came to the attention of the authorities.
He had built a bonfire in the grounds in order to burn rubbish but when fire crews arrived they also discovered that he had built a small fire out of paper and timber in the interior of the building.
Depute fiscal Carol White told the court: “In the opinion of the watch manager, the fire would have spread to the rest of the building had it not been extinguished.”
Mersh, who has now been provided with temporary accommodation at St Catherine’s Square in Perth, admitted starting the fire on April 20.
He was made subject to a community payback order for 18 months.
