Man Sentenced for Fire and Assault in Perth and Kinross
A 37-year-old man, David Storie, has been sentenced to seven years in prison after setting fire to his flat in Perth and Kinross following an assault on his partner. The fire spread to neighboring homes and caused partial demolition of the building located in Milnathort.
Storie was convicted of assaulting his then-partner by grabbing her throat and compressing her neck, as well as wilful fireraising that endangered the lives of the woman and three neighbors. Although initially charged with attempted murder, he was acquitted of that charge.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard testimony that Storie's then-girlfriend witnessed him using a cigarette lighter to ignite the fire at a flat on Wester Loan in the town.
Judge Alison Stirling told Storie: "Custody is the only appropriate disposal having regard to the serious nature of your offending."
Police responding to reports of the incident observed smoke and flames upon arrival and found a "well established fire." Firefighters attending the scene saw flames emanating from windows and noted that the fire had breached the roof of the property.
Details of the Assault and Fire
During the trial, it was revealed that Storie had seized his victim by the neck, squeezing it to the point where she was unable to breathe. After causing her to fall to the floor, he pinned her down using a clothes horse.
The woman managed to escape the flat and sought assistance from a neighbor but was pursued by Storie, who grabbed her and dragged her back to his residence.
Following the assault, Storie used a cigarette lighter to ignite a sofa cushion in the living room and the label of a mattress in the bedroom.
He then left the tenement block without informing any other occupants about the fire.
The judge also imposed a non-harassment order preventing Storie from contacting his former partner indefinitely.
