Drunk Lanarkshire firestarter who spat at OAP and punched man avoids jail

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A Motherwell woman set fire to a fence outside her home then assaulted neighbours who were trying to put out the flames.Hamilton Sheriff Court heard this week that the blaze started when Sharon Morris tossed a cigarette into a pile of rubbish.The fire damaged windows and garden fencing that had just been painted.The Lanarkshire Live app is available to download now.

Get all the news from your area – as well as features, entertainment, sport and the latest on Lanarkshire’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic – straight to your fingertips, 24/7.The free download features the latest breaking news and exclusive stories, and allows you to customise your page to the sections that matter most to you.Head to the App Store and never miss a beat in Lanarkshire - iOS - Android Morris, of Scotia Street, admitted culpably and recklessly igniting items on July 13 last year.The 43-year-old also admitted spitting on a woman and a 70-year-old man and punching another man.Aga Mathieson, prosecuting, said Morris was seen smoking about 9pm.

She then discarded the cigarette, causing items to catch fire.Ms Mathieson stated: "Neighbours came out of their homes and tried to extinguish the flames."One woman tried to speak to Morris who spat towards her twice, the saliva hitting her on the second occasion."Another neighbour tried to defuse the situation, but Morris punched him twice and when another man tried to calm her down she spat on him twice."Firefighters arrived and extinguished the flames."Ms Mathieson said the fence had been painted only the day before and the owner was quoted more than £2,000 for repairs.Defence agent Elspeth Forrest blamed "excessive consumption of alcohol" for Morris's behaviour, saying she had been careless when