A thug who threatened a rookie police officer with a machete hours into his first shift has been jailed.
13.11.2023 - 15:31 / dailyrecord.co.uk
A thug who torched two cars at a firefighter 's home was jailed for 15 months on Monday. The vehicles were targeted shortly before Scott Kennedy was due to give evidence in a court case.
William Lambie, 29, admitted causing £33,000 of damage by wilfully setting fire to the Mercedes and Kia. The attack happened in Motherwell, Lanarkshire, on November 5 - Guy Fawkes Night - last year.
The following month a 17-year-old youth appeared in court and admitted a serious assault on Scott, 53. The firefighter was confronted by a gang of youths as he and his wife walked home late at night in August 2021. He was punched repeatedly and needed surgery for facial injuries, including a broken nose.
Scott, a group commander at the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service national training centre, had been cited to give evidence in the assault trial. However, the teenager pleaded guilty at the last minute.
He was given a community payback order, electronically tagged and ordered to pay £1,000 compensation.
Lambie, of Newhouse, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court regarding the fire attack.
Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, said the householders were at home when they heard a noise and saw the Mercedes parked outside was on fire.
She told the court: "The flames spread to the second car and the complainer called 999. He tried to extinguish the flames before the arrival of the fire service.
"A petrol can had been left on the pavement. DNA on the handle was analysed and found to be a match for the accused."
Defence agent Scott Jones said Lambie torched the cars to repay drug dealers.
The lawyer stated: "He had a serious cocaine problem and accrued a massive debt. He was taken advantage of and induced to carry out this act to clear that debt.
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