Man made threats to blow up hotel before setting fire to bed

AMAN threatened to blow up a hotel before setting the bed in his room on fire.

Alan Hamilton, 48, told security at Glasgow’s Alexander Thomson Hotel that he had two gas canisters in July this year.

They later encountered a corridor filled with smoke and found Hamilton unconscious next to a bed on fire.

The blaze forced all 120 occupants and staff to flee from the hotel in the middle of the night.

Hamilton pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to wilful fire raising and behaving in a threatening or abusive manner.

The court heard there were three beds in Hamilton’s room although sole occupant.

Prosecutor Graham Macdonald told the court an aggressive Hamilton approached the two security guards at the reception area at 11pm.

Mr Macdonald said: “He said he had two cans of gas within his room and he was going to set fire to the hotel.

“The accused was escorted to his room in order that the guard could check and remove the gas from his possession.

“On entering the doorway, the accused refused the guard entry swearing and shouting at him and preventing access to the doorway.”

Hamilton picked up a fire extinguisher and sprayed it at the guard before police were contacted. The fire alarm was later raised with smoke seen billowing from Hamilton’s room. he was the

Mr Macdonald said: “A guard saw the accused lying alone on one of the beds whilst another bed to his right was in flames.

“Attempts were made to shout and get the accused out the room but he was unresponsive.”

The flames were put out by a fire extinguisher before the guard dragged Hamilton out.

Hamilton was checked over by an ambulance crew before being arrested.

The hotel reported that the cost of the damage was £ 80 and it was revealed Hamilton has previous convictions for fire raising.

Lawyer Mel Wise, defending, will make his plea in mitigation at next month’s sentencing.

Sheriff Johanna Johnston QC continued Hamilton’s remand in custody for background reports.