Firebomber had blade in jail cell

A FIREBOMBER has been given more jail time after he was caught with a deadly weapon made from a toothbrush in his cell.

Daniel McAleney had armed himself with the handcrafted blade amid claims of a “currency of violence” at Perth Prison.

McAleney was locked up in 2021 for his role in a firebomb attack at a block of flats in Arbroath.

His targets were able to escape their ground-floor home after being woken by a loud bang and seeing their living room in flames.

McAleney, 25, was sentenced to four years and eight months at the High Court in Glasgow, after he admitted a charge of assaulting the couple to the danger of their lives, reduced from attempted murder.

He returned to the dock at Perth Sheriff Court last week and admitted possessing a weapon and an illicit mobile phone SIM card at the city jail on January 26 2021.

Fiscal depute Lee Corr said prison officers carried out a random search of McAleney’s cell.

“He advised them that he did not have any prohibited items,” the prosecutor told the court.

“However, they found a toothbrush which had been melted at the bristle end with a razor blade attached.”

He said the unauthorised SIM was found inside a prison-issued mobile phone.

Solicitor Keith Sym, defending, said: “He has struggled in the prison environment.

“Because of his sentence, he was housed with long-term prisoners, many who had a history of violence.

“He tells me there is a currency of violence at the jail and he thought he was in danger.

“He stupidly decided to get a weapon.”

Mr Sym said it followed “daily” violent threats, adding: “There was no suggestion this weapon was used in any way.”

McAleney, who was due to be freed in May next year, was given an extra 10 months behind bars.

In June 2021, the High Court in Glasgow heard there were rumours that the man targeted by McAleney’s petrol bomb attack had robbed a disabled man.

McAleney also thought the man had been responsible for a break-in at his house.

Prosecutor David Dickson said this was the motivation behind the petrol bomb attack for which McAleney and his co-accused Aiden McGregor were jailed.

McGregor pled guilty to attempted murder and was jailed for six years.

Daniel McAleney pled guilty.