Man set prison staff cars on fire on Christmas Day
BBCA man set fire to cars belonging to prison staff at HMP Grampian in Peterhead on Christmas Day, a court has heard
Graeme Seivwright, 43, admitted involvement in the blaze on 25 December 2023.
Three vehicles had to be written off, and another three were damaged.
At the High Court in Glasgow, Lord Mulholland said the property of prison officers had to be protected. Sentence was deferred until January.
Prosecutor David Logan said prison officers had noticed a red glow coming from the car park and could smell smoke.
"Upon checking cameras, it was noted a car was on fire and two dark figures could be seen in the vicinity."
A total of eight vehicles had been parked in the area of the blaze.
Police went on to find a discarded bottle nearby which contained petrol.
They also picked up a bottle cap, which was later found to have Seivwright's DNA on it.
He admitted wilful fire-raising.
Lord Mulholland told Seivwright: "You have pled guilty to a serious matter - setting fire to prison officers' cars.
"This is not the first time this sort of thing has happened in the recent past.
"Prison officers are there to execute the orders of the courts.
"They and their property needs protected."
