Hot tub yob set fire to summerhouse

A Holytown hot tub yob who set fire to a child’s summerhouse has been jailed for two years.

Paul Martin (34) also attacked his partner twice, Hamilton Sheriff Court was told.

Martin, of Kenilworth Court, Holytown, admitted charges of assault, fire raising and threatening or abusive behaviour.

Scott King, prosecuting, said trouble began in August 2017 at the home of Martin’s girlfriend, Claire Mcmahon, in Sunnyside Terrace, Holytown.

Neighbour Sandra Mcgraw was wakened at 4.30am by noise from a hot tub where the couple and another person were enjoying an early morning dip. Mrs Mcgraw, who is from Northern Ireland, went out to ask them to quieten down, but was met with racist abuse from Martin that left her“intimidated and frightened”.

Later that day Martin approached Mrs Mcgraw’s husband, Thomas, and shouted: ‘You’re getting it and your car is getting it’.

Three months later, Martin grabbed Ms Mcmahon by the hair and kicked her twice on the mouth, bursting her lip.

Two days later he pushed her to the ground and pinned her down until a friend dragged him away.

Then, in the early hours of December 9, 2017, Martin went to Ms Mcmahon’s home with a petrol can and used it to set fire to a summerhouse in the garden.

She was staying at her parents’at the time.

The Mcgraws alerted firefighters, who extinguished the blaze. The summerhouse, valued at £5862, was extensively damaged.

Windows, doors and guttering of a neighbouring property, as well as fencing and a garden shed, had to be replaced at a cost of nearly £10,000.

The next day Martin confronted the Mcgraws, both 57, in their front garden.

He told Sandra Mcgraw‘f*** off, Irish b ****** ’then warned the couple: ‘I’ll burn your house down. You’ve no idea what I can do with a petrol can.’

Defence agent Kevin Mccarron pointed out that Martin has a full-time job, owns his home and has a relatively minor criminal record.

He added:“this behaviour was out of character for him.

“It came during a period when he was having difficulties in his relationship with Ms Mcmahon. “He went entirely off the rails. “However, his partner is in court and it’s my understanding they wish to continue the relationship.”

Jailing Martin, Sheriff Marie Smart told him:“you brought all this on yourself by your outrageous behaviour towards your partner and her neighbours.

“The fire raising was a dangerous act and it’s just fortunate that it didn’t spread due to the distance from the house.”