Fireraiser prefers jail to Gorebridge home
A man found guilty of setting fire to a flat in Edinburgh requested that he be sent to prison to get away from his hometown of Gorebridge.
His wish was granted at Edinburgh Sheriff Court where James Kerr, 63, was sentenced to ten months in jail for wilful fireraising.
Kerr set fire to a flat in Pilrig Heights, Edinburgh, in December 2010.
The fire caused extensive damage to the flat and communal stairwell, putting himself and others in danger.
His defence solicitor, Kirsten Cockburn, told Sheriff Mackinnon: "He is quite clear he wishes any disposal be a custodial disposal.
"If he is sent to prison he will lose the tenancy of his house in Gorebridge.
"This is what he wants. He tells me he is one million times happier in Saughton [prison] than in Gorebridge".
Sheriff Mackinnon said that due to the seriousness of the matter only a custodial sentence was appropriate.
Kerr's sentence was backdated to December 21 last year.