A sheriff has told a man who tried to set himself on fire he could have killed his neighbour and her young child when he set a blaze in his council house on Skye.
Michael Nicholson was only spared an immediate jail sentence because he was the victim of a similar incident when he was aged just 12.
Portree Sheriff Court heard that the 25-year-old suffered serious burns when petrol was poured on the embers of a fire he and other youngsters had built on a beach.
The incident left him with psychological problems.
Nicholson admitted starting a blaze at his council house at 21 Matheson Place in Portree on December 21, 2013.
He wilfully set fire to his own clothing and furniture, and the flames spread, causing extensive damage to the property and putting his neighbour and her young child at risk of injury.
Sheriff Richard Davidson said the death of a woman in Dundee several years ago was a constant reminder to him of the danger of smoke inhalation.
Fiscal Stewart Maciver said Nicholson’s neighbour heard him return home in the early hours.
At 5am there was a call to the emergency services and the neighbour was wakened.
The fiscal: “He (Nicholson) had tried to set himself on fire by lighting his jersey, but failed.
“The firemen extinguished the blaze, which caused £16,000 damage to the house.”
Nicholson’s agent, solicitor Roger Webb, said: “A psychological report says Mr Nicholson is no problem when he is sober.
“He tells me he has ended his relationship with alcohol. When he drinks he suffers from depression.”
Sheriff Davidson said: “I have examined a report on you from a clinical psychologist and the whole circumstances of this case gives me great anxiety.
“The background to it is your own exposure to fire and there is no shame in it.
“However, the psychologist says you are a danger to the public. My duty is to treat you fairly and protect the public, which is my paramount function.
“You need to know that this offence has the appearance of one which could carry a three-year jail term.
“If I thought you just liked starting fires you would go straight to prison.”
The sheriff deferred sentence to February 16 for an additional psychological report.