Firebug’s name was on IOU used to start blaze

FEUD: Paper doused in petrol and shoved through letterbox failed to take hold

A firebug who tried to torch his neighbour’s home in a feud over money was caught because he used an IOU with his name on it to start the blaze.

Marc Smith doused the slip in petrol and shoved it through Kelly Fyffe’s letterbox but he was caught when the fire failed to take hold.

Detectives found his name on the pink slip of paper and traced it back to a local garage where he had purchased the fuel, despite not having enough money.

Yesterday at Perth Sheriff Court, Smith, 29, from Forfar, was jailed for 18 months.

He was placed under supervision for a further nine months after his release.

The Abertay University business management student claimed he was owed a considerable sum of money by Miss Fyffe and was frustrated because she did not pay it back.

Depute fiscal Eilidh Robertson told the court he hatched a plan to set fire to her home by putting a lit piece of paper through the letterbox.

She said he was captured on CCTV an hour before the incident entering a garage to buy the petrol he was using as an accelerant.

He did not have enough money to pay for it and had to sign a “promise to pay” sheet to confirm he would return with the outstanding amount.

It was the copy of the “promise to pay” form – containing his name and address – to which he set fire before pushing it through the letterbox of the property in Strathmore Avenue, Forfar.

Solicitor Anne Duffy, defending, said: “This followed on from a binge of alcohol and cocaine, and although he has limited recollection of events, he does accept full responsibility.

“He does have an insight into the impact of his offence.

“The complainer was due Mr Smith quite a lot of money and although he doesn’t remember putting the pink slip through the letterbox, he accepts he did.

“He wanted to frighten her rather than do anything nasty to her.

“There was a text message where she was trying to obtain £5,000 from him in order not to come to court and testify.

“Although it doesn’t excuse his behaviour, it does depict a picture of a less than blameless complainer.”

Smith admitted five charges including trying to set fire to the house on August 30 last year, as well as kicking the door and threatening Miss Fyffe.

He also admitted brawling with police. Sheriff William Wood said: “Notwithstanding any money due to you, it was clearly inappropriate to embark on a plan of going to the petrol station, pouring it through the letterbox and trying to set fire to it.

“Attempting to set fire to (the property in) Strathmore Avenue was a very reckless act that may have had very serious consequences.”

Marc Smith is led from court yesterday.