Prisoner who set fire to his cell is sentenced

Moments after an inmate told staff he was going to set fire to his cell, smoke could be seen billowing from an area of Perth Prison and the fire brigade were alerted.

Paul Lyons had wilfully torched clothing and bedding but staff quickly had the outbreak under control and the firefighters’services weren’t required.

It earned Lyons a 12-month prison term when he appeared at Perth Sheriff Court.

But after hearing the 36-year-old’s earliest release date wasn’t until 2024, Sheriff William Wood agreed that his latest sentence be served at the same time as his current one.

Lyons admitted starting the blaze, which also scorched the cell floor, on January 29, 2018.

Depute Fiscal Carol Whyte said that Lyons had used the intercom system about 6.30pm to tell prison officers he was “going to set fire to the cell.”

Shortly afterwards, smoke could be seen and items of clothing and bedding were on fire.

Staff, however, soon had it extinguished.

The total cost of the damage was just over £41.

A solicitor for the accused explained:“The day before he was involved in an incident with other prisoners.

“He was the victim of an assault and required to be examined by the prison nurse.”

He had been taken to the segregation unit and “took umbrage”at that.

He advised staff that he intended to set fire to his bedding and shortly afterwards the alarm went off. The matter was over in seconds and damage was nominal.”

Sheriff Wood, although deciding the jail term be served concurrently, pointed out the conviction would affect the accused’s future parole applications.