A 30-year-old man, who started a fire in a Dunfermline block of flats where his partner lived, has been jailed.

Samuel Craig, 30, who has recently been living in Cardenden, appeared from custody at Dunfermline Sheriff Court.

His partner lived in the flats where he started the fire and they had fallen out that day.

Craig previously admitted that on January 5, 2022 at a block of flats in Law Road, he wilfully set fire to items in a drying and storage room, whereby the fire took effect causing smoke and fire damage and danger to persons within the flats.

He also admitted that on April 24, 2021 at his then home in Broomhead Drive, Dunfermline, he culpably and recklessly threw a knife at his mother, striking her on the head to her injury.

Depute fiscal Katherine Fraser previously told the court that Craig’s partner lived at the flats in Law Road and they had been in a relationship for nine months at the time. However, his partner decided to end the relationship that day and there had been an argument between them.

She left her home and Craig was still inside shouting. She later contacted her social worker to say she wanted Craig to move out.

The woman then met Craig at the Broomhead flats to hand over his possessions. He told her he had left her flat by jumping out a window.

At around 1pm Craig was again in her street shouting, and returned there an hour later.

At 3.10pm a woman saw Craig trying to get into the flats by forcing the door open. Shortly afterwards she saw smoke and contacted the fire service.

A woman living in the flats received calls from friends to tell her a fire had started in her block and she left her home.

There were other people in their flats at the time of the fire, which was on the first floor.

They were told by the firefighters to stay in their homes as the blaze was tackled.

Fortunately, no-one was injured but there was significant fire and smoke damage to the storage room and a washing machine there.

Craig’s story was that he had started the fire so that his partner would be moved into a new home.

Craig had originally been put on a drug treatment and testing order but breached it.

Defence solicitor Alexander Flett said his client had a “chaotic lifestyle”.

Sheriff Susan Duff jailed Craig for a total of 31 months.