Labourer set fire in Invergordon flat because of ‘bad mood’, Highland court told
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A 23-year-old labourer set fire to the shower room within his homeless accommodation because he was in “a bad mood”.
Josh McLaren, of Diriebught Court, Inverness appeared before Sheriff Sara Matheson and pleaded guilty to a charge of wilful fire raising relating to property at High Street, Invergordon on June 28 last year.
At the same time he also admitted being in possession of a knife and a hatchet as well as a breach of a bail curfew.
He was jailed for a year.
McLaren told his lawyer, John MacColl that he wanted no representations made against a custodial sentence.
He was jailed for a year at Inverness Sheriff Court.
Fiscal depute Victoria Silver told the court that McLaren had arrived at his accommodation on a bike, went out of sight, then came back and cycled away again from the property.
“Shortly after, a fire alarm went off and a member of staff went into his flat and smoke was coming out of the shower,” she said.
Ms Silver told Sheriff Matheson that McLaren then went to his parents’ home and told them “he had set fire to his flat because he was in a bad mood.”
The fire service were called to extinguish the blaze.
Mr MacColl told the court that his client had subsequently returned to the flat and was taken inside by a member of the fire service to retrieve some of his belongings.
“He put them in a rucksack but the items were in there and when police arrested and searched him, they found the weapons,” he said.
“His recollection of events is poor as he was under the influence.
“He suffers from difficulties when he consumes alcohol and Class C drugs in excess and feels they are taking control.
“He does not think he will be able to comply with a community payback order and it is to his credit that he has instructed me not to make representations against a custodial sentence.”
Mr MacColl added: “The damage (to the property) was not extensive.”
Sheriff Matheson told McLaren: “These are serious matters and could have been a great deal more serious if the fire had taken hold.”
