An ‘immature’ teenage firebug – who set alight a Masonic Hall in Ayr – has been warned he could end up in jail if he doesn’t change his ways.
Shannon Coombes, 19, set fire to the George Street building on May 29 last year.
The charge, for which Coombes pleaded guilty at Ayr Sheriff Court, states that he wilfully set fire to the building, causing damage to the floor area and roof.
But when asked in court by the sheriff as to why he did it, Coombes simply replied: “Don’t know.”
Sheriff Desmond Leslie asked solicitor Steven Maxwell: “What was the point in this?”
Mr Maxwell replied: “Absolutely none whatsoever. Gross immaturity.
“And the potential consequences I have gone over.”
Sheriff Leslie said: “Fortunately there were no consequences. I can only sentence him on the facts, and not the potential consequences.”
Mr Maxwell said: “I still think that he’s immature.
“He’s currently subject to an order which will run into the next year.
“I think he’s going to need supervision.
“He’s out the house and staying in a one-bedroom flat. But I think a period of custody would take that away from him.”
Sheriff Leslie asked Coombes: “Do you realise how serious this is? Why did you do it?”
Coombes replied from the dock: “Don’t know.”
Sheriff Leslie told him: “You’ve got your own flat now, I take it you want to keep that?
“The report I have is not a great report in terms of the order you’re currently subject to.
“One reading of this report is you don’t care. That things will just wash over you and you’ll do what you want regardless.
“You’re going to end up in jail if you continue with that attitude, and I wouldn’t have thought that would be a good thing for you.
“You’ve got a house, if you go to jail you’ll lose that and you’ll lose everything.”
During sentencing, Coombes was placed on a community payback order with 18 months supervision and a conduct requirement to attend the Action for Children Project.
Coombes, of Greenock, Inverclyde, was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work within 12 months.
The sheriff further warned: “If you re-offend then the gloves are off and you leave me with no alternative but to send you to jail.”
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