BANK BLAZE MANIAC IS CAGED
Damage bill was more than £100k
A former headteacher who set fire to a bank in Paisley has been jailed for three years.
John Robertson, 65, poured lighter fluid on ATMs in the town’s High Street and set them ablaze as part of a personal vendetta against bosses at the TSB.
Paisley Sheriff Court heard that Robertson flipped out over
mounting bank charges and hatched a twisted revenge plot against the bank.
He got tanked up on booze and torched the cash machines on July 2 last year, setting a blaze which caused £100,000 worth of damage to the property and caused major disruption to residents.
The former headmaster and principal maths teacher, who last worked by in the 1990s, had been staying in the town’s Causeyside Street where he had fallen on hard times.
Defence agent Colin Williamson said: “My client went to the ATMs, set fire to them, and was apprehended a short time later. He had an ongoing dispute with his bank in relation to his account arrangements and management of his finances.
“He had, on occasion, run up his account and there was an overdraft which resulted in bank charges being applied to his account. This resulted in further charges being applied to his account which led to him being further in the red.
“These financial problems caused a great deal of resentment to build up towards the bank. He was attempting to make a point towards the bankers. He was going to damage the ATMs outside the bank.
“Having taken alcohol, he found himself outside with lighter fluid for his lighters, which he used to damage the machines. He did know what he was doing and he accepts the consequences could have been more serious.”
The court was told two cash machines and an internal sorting room at the bank were damaged in the blaze, causing £98,000 to the owners in repairs and refurbishment.
Firefighters also had to evacuate nearby buildings in the town’s High Street while they extinguished the blaze.
His lawyer added that Robertson, who appeared from custody looking unshaven and bedraggled, had strong political views, which may also explain his bizarre actions.
Mr Williamson said the former headteacher was “highly educated,” but his marriage had broken up and he taken to drink.
He was now a “tragic case” of a dramatic fall from grace.
The accused had recently been living in homeless accommodation, was estranged from his family, and had even notched up convictions for anti-social disorder at a Paisley cafe and making vile racist comments at an Asian shopkeeper who refused to sell him more drink.
Robertson pleaded guilty to charges of wilful fire- raising by setting fire to two ATMs by pouring lighter fluid on them and setting them ablaze causing extensive damage to the bank at 26 High Street, Paisley.
He also pleaded guilty to breaching bail conditions granted at Paisley Sheriff Court after not attending a court hearing in respect of the charges.
Sheriff Colin Pettigrew told the accused: “Whatever your dispute with the bank, your reaction was totally disproportionate.
“This offence of wilful fireraising caused extensive damage to two ATMs and an internal room amounting to £98,000.
“Yo u displayed gross irresponsibility and a reckless disregard for the safety of other residents in the nearby buildings.
“If it weren’t for the fire service getting there shortly after it could have been much more unfortunate.
“But you were not to know that. You left the scene and resolved to let others deal with the consequences.”
Sheriff Pettigrew said there was only one sentence suitable to mark the gravity of the crime and to deter others from doing the same thing, and that was a prison term.
He jailed Robertson for 30 months for the fire-raising and six months for the bail offence.
These sentences will run consecutively. Paisley’s Exclusive Lingerie Shop Est. 1985 7 Johnston St, Paisley, PA1 1XQ • Tel: 0141 561 7171 TEL: 0141 561 7171