A notorious firestarter has been jailed for three and a half years after causing more than £100,000 of damage in a spate of blazes.
It means Alan Beck has been sentenced to more than 16 years in prison since 2009 for fire attacks.
Beck, 45, appeared from custody at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week after admitting the latest wilful fireraising charges.
He struck three times in the Carbarns area of Netherton over a two-week period in November and December last year.
The first target was cabins owned by North Lanarkshire Council’s justice services team that are used by offenders on community payback orders.
A week later police evacuated residents after a double garage at their home went up in flames. CCTV showed Beck at the scene.
Beck returned to the area seven days later and set fire to an outbuilding at a nearby house, causing extensive damage.
Rosemary O’Neill, prosecuting, said: “Police found a black glove in the vicinity of the third fire and this was linked to Beck.
“Officers saw him climbing through a fence into an open field. He was captured and stated ‘Why did it take you so long to catch me?’”
Sheriff Linda Nicolson said Beck has a “significant” record for fireraising.
In 2009 he was jailed for 45 months for torching several houses in Cumbernauld then in 2012 he received four and a half years after starting fires at another house, a golf club, stables and a nursing home.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard 43 elderly people were evacuated when Beck ignited curtains at Rannoch Lodge Nursing Home in Cumbernauld. Luckily, there were no casualties.
Beck was given another four and half years in 2018 for setting fire to a social worker’s car in Wishaw after being refused financial help.
Defence advocate Callum Hiller said his client suffers from learning difficulties, has been unemployed most of his life and has no family support.
Sheriff Nicolson accepted Beck had faced difficulties in the lead up to the latest offences, but told him: “Custody is the only option here.
“There is little prospect of success with a community-based disposal at this time.”
The sentence was backdated as Beck has been in custody since his arrest in December.
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