A firebug who torched a church hours before a Sunday morning service was due to take place has been jailed for a year. Scott Hotchkiss was caught on CCTV with newspapers he used to start the blaze that caused nearly £90,000 worth of damage.
Bibles were among items destroyed and the congregation were without their church for five months while repair work was done. Hotchkiss, 25, was sentenced on Tuesday.
He admitted wilfully setting fire to Jackson Church of Scotland in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, while on bail on February 13 last year. Flora McCamley, prosecuting, said the alarm was raised shortly after 3am.
She told Airdrie Sheriff Court: "Firefighters attended and saw fire coming from the main entrance door. Newspapers had been put up against the door and were the main source of ignition. The fire was extinguished but caused damage to the door, cladding and electrical lighting.
"It had a significant effect on the church community who had to hold services elsewhere. A children's holiday club was cancelled and Boys' Brigade members were unable to receive their awards which they'd worked for several years to achieve.
"The church was covered by insurance so bibles and other water-damaged items were replaced."
The court heard that CCTV showed Hotchkiss, of Airdrie, and another man near the church 10 minutes before the fire was spotted. Hotchkiss could be seen lifting papers from a bin. The church minister, Rev Kay Gilchrist, said the congregation were grateful to the man who noticed smoke coming from the building and raised the alarm.
She added: "Damage to the vestibule was extensive but could have been much worse without that 999 call."
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