A Hamilton woman was caught trying to set fire to her neighbour’s front door.
Tracey Maxwell, 50, narrowly avoided a prison sentence at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week.
She admitted attempted fireraising in Burnbank Gardens on November 1, 2022.
The court heard Maxwell stuffed a rag in the letterbox of her neighbour’s flat, sprayed a flammable liquid on the door and left a lit match on the doormat.
But she was caught after the neighbour went to his door.
The incident happened after Maxwell had a row with the man over a loan she failed to repay.
Defence lawyer Scott Jones said social work and medical reports described Maxwell’s “difficult” background and mental health issues, and suggested she was a “fairly vulnerable individual”.
The solicitor added: “I appreciate this is a serious matter but a community payback order would allow her to engage with those offering her meaningful help.”
Sheriff Louise Gallacher noted there was no similar offending on Maxwell’s record and she appeared to have shown “significant remorse”.
The sheriff added: “While the custodial threshold has been crossed, I’m satisfied I can impose an alternative.”
Maxwell was placed under social work supervision for 12 months and will be referred to mental health services. She was ordered to do 100 hours of unpaid community work.
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