A drunken fire-starter who torched 21 ticket machines in a £130,000 Perth car park blaze has been jailed.
William Black was caught on camera staggering into the ground floor of the Canal Street multi-storey site wearing a vest and carrying a ‘wet floor’ sign.
Moments later, passing youngsters heard an explosion and the surrounding area filled with thick smoke.
The 47-year-old appeared at Perth Sheriff Court and admitted a charge of wilful fire-raising on July 20.
He also pled guilty to a separate charge of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner to staff at Perth Royal Infirmary on December 23 2020.
Sheriff William Wood told Black he posed a “significant risk” to the public and jailed him for 33 months.
Passers-by spotted flames
Fiscal depute Lora Apostolova told the court: “At 8.30pm, the accused – wearing black trousers and a vest – walked into the car park.
“It was clear that he was under the influence.”
Black was seen on CCTV emptying the contents of his bag onto the floor.
“He then went to the rear of the van and pulled a small item from his pocket,” the prosecutor said.
The white council vehicle contained 21 brand new ticketing machines, worth £5,000 each.
“Approximately eight minutes later, smoke was spotted coming from the van, which was parked near ticket machines.
“The accused was still at the rear of the vehicle.
“He then proceeded to walk away, carrying a wet floor sign.
“Three young girls observed the fire from the street and entered the car park for a closer look.
“Flames were now visible at the ticket machines.
“The rear van tyre exploded and thick smoke began to spread throughout the car park.”
Street locked down
Emergency services were scrambled to the scene and the surrounding area was locked down.
“After about 25 minutes of using hose jets the fire was put out,” said Ms Apostolova.
“Fire and rescue staff took parking meters out of the way and continued to dampen down any remaining hot spots, using a thermal imaging camera.
“Once the fire was extinguished, they could see that it had been started around the rear of the van.”
Black was later traced, standing outside Perth police station.
He was arrested and found to be in possession of a lighter, the fiscal depute said.
The total cost of the damage caused – including a £10,000 air conditioning unit – was £134,000.
Defence agent David Holmes said his client had no agenda and did not known who owned the van or what was inside.
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