Woman set fire to her cell in Cornton Vale

A woman who set fire to her cell while locked up in HMP Cornton Vale appeared at Stirling Sheriff Court this week.

Gail Nicol set fire to a towel within her room on December 3, 2015 and was, on Wednesday morning, sentenced to a 12 months community payback order with supervision by way of punishment.

The court heard at around 10.40am on the day in question, officers at the prison received a call alerting them to the fact that there was a fire within a cell.

Upon arriving, the officers saw the fire and the accused, who was in the cell lying on a bed. She was asked to leave and, after the cell was searched, officers found that she had set fire to a towel.

Her defence solicitor explained that while she accepts setting fire to the towel, she has no memory of doing so due to the prescription medication she was on.

Nicol, whose address was given as East Glen Avenue, Livingston, has since stabilised her life and is said to be currently seeking all help available to her.

Sentencing her, Sheriff William Gilchrist said: “This offence took place in December 2015 and a lot has happened since then.

“You are now currently on a community payback order that expires next month. The report indicates significant improvements in your behaviour.

“I see no purpose in sending you back to custody. This was a serious matter but the person most at risk was yourself.”

Nicol was placed under supervision for a period of 12 months.