BREAKING NEWS

Published 31 Oct 2011 09:30

Flat blaze: Man in court

A MAN was forced to leap three floors to safety after the block of flats where he lived was deliberately set on fire, a court heard.

Ross McCutcheon broke his ankle, both heels and fractured six vertebrae after jumping from his top-floor property in Bellsmyre in July this year.

Darren Heaney had minutes earlier torched a pram and a bin in the common close after Mr McCutcheon kicked him out of his flat for trying to steal deodorant.

Other residents affected affected by the blaze included a couple with three young children.

Heaney (25) now faces jail after admitting to a charge of wilful fire-raising at the High Court in Glasgow.

Prosecutor Allan Nicol told how Mr McCutcheon had met Heaney by chance around 11am on July 27 this year.

They went to Mr McCutcheon's flat in Merkins Avenue where he lived with girlfriend Cheryl Wallace.

Heaney later tried to take a can of deodorant, but Mr McCutcheon grabbed it back and told him to get out.

The couple soon became aware of a burning smell coming from the close.

Mr Nicol told the court: "Mr McCutcheon opened the front door to discover the close was full of thick black smoke and extremely hot.

"He closed the door and the couple went to the living room window to shout for help."

The prosecutor said Mr McCutcheon "felt overwhelmed by the heat and smoke" and jumped the three floors onto the concrete below.

Neighbours Stephen Gallacher and Nicola Stewart were in a downstairs flat with three children.

A terrified Miss Stewart threw down a blanket to witnesses outside so the youngsters could be dropped to safety.

However, firefighters and police raced to the scene to successfully rescue those trapped inside the flats.

The blaze was also extinguished and it was later discovered a pram and rubbish bin had been set alight. Three children's bikes had also gone on fire.

The court was told the building suffered "severe smoke damage".

Mr McCutcheon was badly injured after leaping to safety. He suffered multiple fractures and broke both heels and his ankle.

His girlfriend Miss Wallace required treatment for sustained burns and bruising as well as for smoke inhalation.

Heaney, of Durban Avenue, Dalmuir, West Dunbartonshire, was arrested the same day as the blaze after he was spotted throwing away a kitchen knife.

It emerged he had also set alight another bin in Merkins Avenue that morning. He admitted to this wilful fire-raising charge in court.

Heaney was found to have blisters on his thumbs - consistent with burning - but he claimed to a police doctor he had fallen off his bike.

Judge Lord Bracadale deferred sentencing until later this month (November) for reports.

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This article appeared in Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter 31 Oct 11

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