A DUNFERMLINE man who went into a stranger’s garden and tried to burn down his shed has been sentenced.

Richard Brown was heavily intoxicated after consuming alcohol and drugs when he committed the offence.

The fire brigade was called out by neighbours as Brown was wrestled to the ground by the home owner.

Brown, 41, of Rose Street, appeared for sentencing at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

He previously admitted that on October 22, at an address in Victoria Street, Dunfermline, he culpably and recklessly set fire to bags and pallets next to a shed whereby the fire took hold and caused damage to the shed.

He also admitted behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, acted aggressively and made threats of violence.

Depute fiscal Azrah Yousaf told the court that a woman looked out of her bedroom window at around 6.30pm.

“She saw a male lighting fires at a shed in the garden,” added the depute. The woman told her partner, who ran from his home and grabbed Brown, putting him on the ground.

By this time, the fire had taken hold and neighbours called the fire brigade before throwing buckets of water over the shed.

When police arrived, they found Brown still being restrained. When he was detained by officers, Brown claimed he had been assaulted and if they did not act he would “come back and do something about it”.

Defence solicitor Elaine Buist said her client suffered from severe depression and also had a drink problem.

Sheriff Craig McSherry imposed a community payback order with two years’ supervision.