The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Prison warning for man who launched firework into home
AFife man who lit a firework in tribute to his late brother and accidentally launched it into his mum’s kitchen has narrowly avoided a prison sentence.
Joe Arnott had wanted to send the rocket into the night sky as a final goodbye to his brother, Louis, following his funeral earlier that day.
The firework’s stick snapped before he lit it, sending it off in the wrong direction and into the house in Rosyth, causing terrified family members to run for cover.
Dunfermline Sheriff Court heard previously that scaffolder Arnott had been drinking alcohol prior to the incident in June 2020.
Arnott, 32, of Robertson Road, Dunfermline, pled guilty to culpably and recklessly igniting a firework which then flew into an occupied house, to the danger of injury of the occupants within the property.
He appeared for sentencing following the production of background reports.
Defence lawyer Stephen Morrison said his client expressed “deep regret and sorrow” for what happened and wants to put it behind him.
Sheriff Charles Macnair told Arnott: “This is an offence of culpable and reckless conduct, which caused significant danger to those who were in the house. Fireworks are dangerous and must be treated with care and that means, generally speaking, they should be handled by people not under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
“Having regard to the terms of the report which are favourable, I’m just prepared to deal with this as a non-custodial but if you breach the order in any way, then it’s very likely you will serve a custodial sentence.
“That will include a return to custody in relation to your previous sentence.”
Sheriff Macnair sentenced Arnott to carry out 270 hours of unpaid work within a year and placed him under a supervision order for two years.
As Arnott left the dock, a family member in the gallery thanked the sheriff.
If you breach the order in any way, then it’s very likely you will serve a custodial sentence