A young thug has been jailed for breaking into a funeral directors and setting fire to bin bags in a Paisley garden.
Mindless Gary Murdoch set alight a bundle of bin bags lying in a garden in the town’s Westburn Avenue in November 2021, putting homeowners at “considerable risk”.
Once arrested, Murdoch told cops, ‘do you like fires? I like fires'.
Murdoch, described as a prisoner of Polmont young offeners' institution, also smashed two windows to break into the Cooperative funeral directors in the town’s Lady Lane in October last year.
Once inside, Murdoch stole two laptops before making off, resulting in cops chasing him down the street.
The 18-year-old also caused chaos at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in August last year when cops had taken him there due to being concerned about how drunk he was.
Murdoch was shouting and swearing at his grandmother before turning his abusive mouth towards cops.
The fiscal depute told Paisley Sheriff Court: “Around 3.55am on November 28, 2021, the accused was walking on Westburn Avenue with unknown males.
“While he was walking, the accused leaned over the metal fencing and set fire to bin bags that had built up in the front garden of a property. The bags were lying next to a line of plastic bins that ran towards the property, resulting in a small fire.
“Police were contacted by a member of the public who attended and spotted the accused loitering nearby. Officers spoke to the accused and he stated, ‘that was me. Do you like fires? I like fires'.
“Police were able to see that given the bags’ contents that the fire would be able to progress and given the proximity to the property, the householder was at considerable risk.”
Paisley Sheriff Court also heard how on Halloween weekend last year the young thug smashed two windows at Cooperative funeral care in Lady Lane around 5.45am.
The fiscal depute added: “A member of the public contacted police and when they attended they observed the lights to be on and the windows smashed.
“Officers found the accused who made an exit through the front door with two laptops. Police chased the accused and he was arrested.”
Just two months before breaking into the funeral parlour, Murdoch caused “fear or alarm” in the A&E department of the Royal Alexandra Hospital.
The fiscal depute explained: “Police were in attendance at the RAH with a patient getting treatment when they became aware of the accused in the triage area of A&E.
“He was intoxicated and repeatedly shouting which was disturbing people in the hospital.
“Around 9.50pm officers were again aware of the accused shouting and attended to find Murdoch shouting at his grandmother, telling her to, ‘f**k off.’
“He was warned about his conduct by officers and he stated, ‘get the f**k away from me police b*****d'. He was repeatedly warned but refused to desist and told PC Kelly, ‘I’ll f*****g batter you'. He was then informed a report would be sent to my office.”
Defence agent Amy Spencer told the court Murdoch was attempting to “draw a line” under these unpleasant incidents.
Ms Spencer added: “Separate officers had taken him to the RAH because he was heavily under the influence and they were concerned for his welfare. In fact, all of these offences were committed while he was heavily under the influence of alcohol, which is concerning given his young age, he is only 18.
“And he was 17 at the time of the fire-raising incident. He had extreme difficulties with drugs and alcohol in the last years of his life but is now making the most of his time in prison and is trying to move on.”
Sentencing, Sheriff Ian Duguid KC said: “I’m conscious of your very young age and it’s somewhat exceptional to be dealing with someone of your age by imposing custodial sentences.”
Sheriff Duguid KC ordered Murdoch to serve four months detention backdated from his date of remand on May 11.
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