Two men have been convicted of setting fire to a car in the driveway of a Dundee policeman’s home.
William Handy and Craig Guest were found guilty at the High Court in Aberdeen.
The court heard that 54-year-old Handy, of Middlebank Holding, Errol, had become increasingly irate at the police regularly stopping him for alleged road traffic offences.
In June 2014 he snapped and, after researching the home addresses of two officers involved, Handy and his personal trainer Craig Guest, 32, of Nelson Street, Dundee, set fire to a car at Ballumbie.
During proceedings, the court heard Handy’s main focus was PC David Farr and his colleague PC Ross Clark, who he felt were persistently following him and “frightening” him in their unmarked silver Audi.
Handy would openly talk to associates about what he saw as harassment by the police, including Guest whom he met at a gym and then employed as his personal trainer.
Evidence was led that, during regular appointments, phone calls and messages in May and June 2014, the pair agreed to firebomb a car at PC Farr’s Ballumbie home. At Handy’s behest, in the early hours of June 23 2014, Guest poured petrol over a car in Farr’s driveway and set it on fire using a lighter.
No one was hurt, but the consequences could have been far worse if the “uncontrollable” flames had spread before it was brought under control.
Guest had already admitted wilful fire-raising earlier this week and Handy was found guilty in Aberdeen yesterday.
There were gasps from the public gallery when the jury announced their majority verdict.
Handy initially remained motionless in the dock, but a short time afterwards, could be seen lifting his glasses so he could wipe tears away.
The pair will appear for sentencing at the High Court in Livingston on July 27.
Superintendent Graeme Murdoch, from Police Scotland’s Tayside Division, said the pair’s actions were “unacceptable”.
“William Handy and Craig Guest acted in a completely reckless manner that could have had far graver consequences and we welcome the conviction.”