Oban fire starter jailed

Aman who set two fires at his ex-partner’s home while she was at her brother’s funeral was jailed for nearly four years at Oban Sheriff Court yesterday.

The court heard that a mother was in an upstairs bedsit with her seven-year-oldsonwhen road worker Steven Livingston, 52, lit the first fire, which resulted in a petrol can exploding and setting fire to a shed.

S e n t e n c i n g L i vingston to 46 months, Sheriff Douglas Small said: “I seriously considered sending it to the High Court for sentence.”

Livingston pleaded guilty to wilfully setting fire to a shed and contents at Willowdene, Glencruitten Road, Oban, on June 10.

His ex-partner, Margaret Forbes, lived on the ground floor of the former guest house,

“There was some continuing jealously”

with five bedsits upstairs, three of which were occupied at the time.

The fire destroyed the contents of the metal shed and caused damage to the guttering and wall of a neighbouring house.

He also pleaded guilty to breaking a television, various items of furniture, glassware, and crockery, together with clothing and make-up belonging to Miss Forbes and a further charge of setting fire to a shirt hanging in a wardrobe on the same date.

Fiscal Eoin McGinty saidMiss Forbes had received a string of offensive messages from Livingston while she was attending her brother’s funeral before the incidents. Solicitor Gary Miller said Livingston was “horrified” at his actions. He said: “There was some continuing jealously.”