A man who set fire to Santa’s grotto was jailed for eight months by a sheriff who said the crime was “as miserable as it gets”.
The incident, at a yard where the grotto was built in Wick, was described as “a complete blank” in Jason Sheridan’s mind – but he was said to have accepted what he had done, the town’s sheriff court was told.
CCTV showed Sheridan, 30, entering the yard in Grant Street, Wick, on December 16, and leaving shortly afterwards.
The emergency services were alerted after smoke was seen coming from the workshop where the grotto had been completed for a local charity and was awaiting transport to the local business park in time for the children’s visits.
Fiscal Matthew Kerr said that the fire was extinguished, leaving the workshop – it contained a petrol generator – and the grotto, badly damaged but firefighters were recalled to the scene after the blaze reignited the following day.
Sheridan, whose address was given as HMP Barlinnie, Glasgow, was said to have been furious about a friend having been arrested for breaching bail and believed someone had grassed her to the police. He had come north from Manchester seeking work and got a job at a local diner but was sent home for turning up under the influence of drink.
Mr Kerr said that Sheridan left the diner, telling the proprietor: “I am going to take care of some business.”
Sheridan admitted starting the fire and an extensive record.
His solicitor Rory Gowans said there wasn’t much he could say in defence of the accused’s actions and expressed regret at what had been destroyed but made the point that, but for good fortune the outcome could have been much more serious.
Mr Gowans added that Sheridan intended returning to Manchester to look after relatives, after his release. His sentence was backdated to December 19 when he was arrested.
Sheriff Andrew Berry said that the accused could consider himself fortunate he had not been prosecuted at indictable level which would have carried a much heavier sentence.