Man vowed to set himself alight and violently threatened police

A Fife man threatened to set himself on fire then brandished a sledgehammer at police officers who were sent to the scene.

William Rollo, 33, of Kirk Wynd, Kirkcaldy, appeared at Dunfermline Sheriff Court and admitted various offences.

On June 19 at Westfield, Cardenden, he acted in an aggressive manner towards police, threatened to harm himself, attempted to set fire to pieces of paper inside a vehicle, armed himself with a sledgehammer and made threats of violence.

On July 9 at Balgreggie Road, Cardenden, he sent abusive texts to his mother.

On July 26 at Malcolm Street, Ballingry, and elsewhere, he posted messages on a social media website which contained abusive and threatening remarks relating to his expartner.

On September 10 at Kirk Wynd, he shouted, swore, demanded entry to a property, repeatedly struck the front door with his hands and feet and burst into the home against the wishes of the householder, where he then behaved aggressively.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf said police received a call from a family member on June 19 saying Rollo had said he was “going to cover himself in petrol and set fire to himself”.

Police searched for him and at 8.55am his vehicle was traced.

“He appeared to be covered in oil and was attempting to set fire to pieces of paper and put them in the van,” the depute said.

Sheriff Simon Collins imposed a community payback order with two years’ supervision and 210 hours of unpaid work.