A man torched his lover's home after she felt he had been "insensitive" about her late mother. Dean MacTaggart sparked the blaze forcing Amanda Richards, 43, and a young child to leap from a first-floor window to safety.
The 31-year-old sat outside having a cigarette as the fire ripped through the property. The inferno last September on Islay in the inner Hebrides left the building badly damaged, the High Court in Glasgow heard.
First-offender MacTaggart now faces a lengthy jail term after he pled guilty on Thursday to attempting to murder both Ms Richards and the child. The former restaurant supervisor is due to be sentenced next month.
Ms Richards and MacTaggart had been living together in the flat in the grounds of the Dunlossit Estate on Islay. The couple had a row on the night of the blaze.
Prosecutor David Dickson said MacTaggart had started using a "catchphrase" he had seen on a TV show. This referred to someone's "mother" and MacTaggart found it "amusing". He had repeated it to Ms Richards, sparking the argument.
Mr Dickson said: "As her mother was dead and the date of the offence would have been her 60th birthday, she felt MacTaggart had been insensitive towards her. On challenging him, he appeared to take offense."
The couple ended up in the bedroom where MacTaggart punched her in the face. She then spotted he had a knife before he left the room.
Mr Dickson said petrified Ms Richards shoved drawers and her bed behind the door to barricade in herself and the child, who was also there.
She later told police : "I then saw light coming through the door and it was not light from the flat. I knew the flat was on fire. I then started to work out how to get myself and the child out."
Ms Richards chucked clothes and bedding onto the ground to try and break a fall. The woman then made the four-metre leap followed by the youngster.
As the fire spread, both were able to run to a neighbour to help. MacTaggart meantime was found by the estate manager outside in his underpants.
He was heard to say 'sorry' as he put his head in his hands. The advocate depute told the court it took eight hours for fire crews to put the blaze out.
MacTaggart later told police he had lit firelighters which he put under a cushion at Ms Richards' bedroom door.
He added he had been drinking beer and a half bottle of whisky that night.
Mr Dickson said MacTaggart claimed he had not intended to harm Ms Richards and the child. MacTaggart - who was found to have injuries - told officers: "I just cannot believe what I did last night. I am still in shock about everything."
He agreed what he did was "bad and dangerous". David Taylor, defending, said MacTaggart's actions "appear to be entirely drink-fuelled".
The advocate added MacTaggart plans to move away from Islay when he is freed from prison. Lord Beckett remanded him in custody and deferred sentencing for reports.
The cost of repairs and the impact on Ms Richards was not revealed to the court. But, an online crowdfunding appeal was launched days after the fire looking to raise £1,500 to help her.
She later commented on Facebook : "I cannot begin to explain how grateful I am to all who have helped. It is overwhelming and I will never forget. I want to give a big giant cuddle to all of you."
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