An Elgin man was caught breaching bail when he fell into a drunken sleep at his partner’s house on Hogmanay and didn’t notice that a hot tub had caught fire.
Steven Clark had been bailed on December 9 on the condition that he not consume alcohol, contact his partner or enter the street where she lives.
But on New Year’s Eve he decided to ignore the rules in order to collect a bicycle from the empty Elgin property and found himself unexpectedly at the centre of a 999 emergency.
As Clark slept in a bedroom a fire broke out in the hot tub, prompting a call to police and the fire brigade from a concerned member of the public, who spotted the smoke.
When fire crews did a search of the property Clark was found asleep and under the influence of alcohol.
Clark, 34, appeared from custody at Inverness Sheriff Court to admit the bail breach.
Fiscal depute Pauline Gair to the court that Clark had been subject to the bail conditions but remained in a relationship with the complainer in that case.
She said: “Matters came to light when smoke was seen coming from the property and a check was carried out for occupants and the accused was found asleep.”
Faulty LED caused fire
Solicitor Ben Thom, for the accused, told the court that his client had spoken to his partner’s mother on the day in question and was aware that his partner was not at the property.
“He knew his bicycle was within the property,” Mr Thom said, explaining that was the reason Clark had decided to visit the home.
He conceded that his client had consumed alcohol and fallen asleep.
The fire had been caused by a faulty LED in a hot tub, not by any action of his client, Mr Thom added.
Sheriff Robert Fraser deferred sentencing on Clark of Inchbroom Walk, Elgin, to March 1 at Elgin Sheriff Court.
