A man who caused mass panic when he threatened to blow his house up during a drugs binge has been spared prison.
Lee Campbell had a five-hour stand-off with the emergency services at his home in Forres after dousing it in petrol and vowing to set it alight.
Neighbours were evacuated from their homes and gas supplies were cut to Stuart Street as firefighters waited anxiously in case Campbell followed through on his threat.
When he appeared at Elgin Sheriff Court in March, the 26-year-old admitted a breach of the peace charge.
And it emerged during the hearing that the drama had been sparked by a row with a workmate over the return of a toy car.
When Campbell returned to the dock yesterday, his lawyer successfully appealed for Sheriff Olga Pasportnikov to stop short of jailing him.
Defence solicitor Michael Short said: “The person I’m speaking to this morning is different from the person I was speaking to then.
“He is making such an effort to become a responsible parent, and social work reports have all been very positive.”
Sheriff Pasportnikov commented that the offence took place while the accused was on “a binge of cocaine and alcohol”.
But she said she was “persuaded” that a prison sentence was not necessary.
Campbell, who now lives on Meadow Crescent, Elgin, was instead ordered to perform 300 hours of community service within the next six months, and was put on a curfew. He must remain at home from 7pm to 7am for the next eight months.
He will also remain under the supervision of social workers for the next two years.
Sheriff Pasportnikov added: “There will be no second chances.”
Police, fire crews and paramedics were called to Cambell’s home shortly before 9pm on Wednesday, August 30.
Negotiators spent hours trying to convince him to leave the property, as Campbell threatened to attack any officer who went into the address.
He eventually surrendered himself after 2am.
Mr Short said his client had suffered after losing his job last March, and had been served an eviction notice in the days leading up to the siege.
The solicitor argued that Campbell’s life had “spiralled out of control”.
