Voices told dad to start flat fire

0 - 0 • Published 17 Jun 2009 14:42

High rise residents put in danger

AN unstable man started fires in his high rise flat - endangering people"s lives - when 'the voices in his head told him to'.

William McCallum, 43, set fire first to curtains then to a bedroom mattress in his flat half-way up the block, engulfing his floor with thick smoke.

The dad, who has mental health issues, had stopped taking his medication and started boozing with his brother, against medical advice, Dumbarton Sheriff Court heard on Wednesday.

Fiscal depute Scott Simpson, prosecuting, said the incident happened in the afternoon following McCallum"s drinking session with his sibling who had just been released from jail.

McCallum said he was aware he had not taken his medication and knew he was not supposed to drink due to mental health issues.

Mr Simpson told the court: 'What he then did was to set fire to curtains in the living room using a cigarette lighter. His brother threw water over the curtains to put this out.'

But McCallum then went to the bedroom and began a second blaze on his mattress - this time it could not be extinguished.

The fire brigade were called and, using breathing apparatus, entered the flat and rescued McCallum and his brother from the smoke filled home.

It was decided that the smoke in the hallways was a risk to neighbours and fire crews opted not to evacuate them, it being safer for them to remain indoors.

McCallum and his brother were taken to the Western Infirmary and after being interviewed by police, the 43-year-old was later arrested and charged.

He told the officers he was feeling depressed and explained he could hear voices saying 'self harm yourself, self harm the house' and 'burn the house down'.

McCallum pled guilty to wilfully setting fire to the flat at Kilbowie Court, Radnor Park, and endangering his neighbours on January 21 this year.

Roddy Boag, defending, told the court McCallum, a father of five, separated from his wife four-years-ago due to drink and underlying psychological problems.

He added that his client had sorted out his issues and medication was working to the extent he was seeing his wife and kids on a regular basis.

Mr Boag added that the release of his brother had upset his routine and he began missing his doses.

When he moved to Kilbowie Court to live with his brother he lost contact with his children.

Mr Boag said: 'His recollection of a number of matters around this time is confused.

'His troubles have contributed. It can be viewed as an extreme one-off which is not likely to be repeated.'

Sheriff Simon Pender placed McCallum, then of Greenock Prison, on probation for three years, with the conditions that he attend psychological counselling, takes his medication, carries out 120 hours of community service and lives at his wife"s house for a year.

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This article appeared in Clydebank Post 17 Jun 09

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