Renfrewshire firebug jailed after setting cars, vans and bins alight (2024)

A firebug has been jailed after admitting to setting a number of vehicles alight across Renfrewshire towns.

Callous James Graham set fire to cars, vans and bins in Paisley and Johnstone last year after taking “far too much street Valium”.

The 40-year-old thug who has “no recollection” of setting the vehicles on fire was jailed for 13 months.

Procurator fiscal depute Jason Stark told Paisley Sheriff Court Graham set a van on fire on Monday, February 27, in Gallowhill Road, causing damage to a work van.

He explained: “Mr Blackstock returned home in his work van and parked it close to his home.

“Mr Thomson lives near Mr Blackstock and on returning home in his car, driving on Gallowhill Road, he noticed the door to Blackstock’s vehicle was open and a naked flame within the cab.

“At this time, a witness Ms Thomson was within her home and was aware of an orange glow outside.

“Worried about her own car, she went out and saw the van on fire.

“This witness has her own CCTV system which shows a male walking past her home before the fire. The male is continually looking back in the direction of where the van was parked.”

On the same day, Graham, described as a prisoner of Low Moss Prison, Bishopbriggs, set fire to a Ford Focus in Paisley’s Belmont Road causing damage to its front grill and bonnet.

Mr Stark told the court: “Mr Duffy noticed a large amount of smoke in the sky and was of the opinion a house was on fire.

“When looking at his car, he then noted it was on fire and he ran down to the car to put it out.

“Watch Commander Davis attended at Gallowhill Road and was met with a well-developed fire involving a white van.

“Duffy informed the Watch Commander someone had tried to set his car on fire and that he lived in the next street to where the van had been set alight.

“Davis confirmed that both fires had been wilful.”

Court heard on December 6, last year, Graham set fire to a bin in Johnstone’s Greenend Avenue before setting fire to a Kia Sportage in Cochranemill Road.

Mr Stark added: “Police received a report of a disturbance on December 5 between the accused and his brother William Graham.

“The incident escalated with the accused leaving his brother’s home and approached a vehicle with a lighter threatening to set his vehicle alight.

“The lighter was removed from the accused and he headed off towards Greenend Avenue.

“Shortly after midnight on December 6, the accused’s brother informed police the accused had set what was believed to be a bin on fire.

“The accused’s brother stated, ‘You need to get a hold of my brother before he starts lighting things on fire, he won’t stop setting things on fire until he is stopped by police.’

“Officers traced the accused crouched down behind a Kia Sportage [before he stood up] and walked away from the vehicle which had been set alight.”

Defence agent Charlie McCusker told the court Graham has “no recollection” of the incidents.

He said: “At this time, he was taking far too much street Valium and far too much alcohol. He has no recollection of doing any of these things and he is deeply embarrassed by that.

“He recognises this could have been very serious and recognises he is very lucky no harm has been done to anybody. He apologises for his behaviour.”

Sheriff Bruce Erroch KC jailed Graham for 13 months.

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