Man torched partner's car when he wasn't allowed into her home

As the vehicle went up in flames, he yelled at her: “You’re not treating me like a bam.”

A man torched his partner’s car when she wouldn’t let him into her Blantyre home.

As the vehicle went up in flames, Christopher Hogg yelled at her: “You’re not treating me like a bam.”

Hogg, 35, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court this week and admitted wilful fireraising in Park Crescent on February 5 this year while on bail.

He also admitted threatening or abusive behaviour towards his partner and police officers.

Daisy Bentley, prosecuting, said the couple had been at a family gathering but the woman left and went home after Hogg became “heavily intoxicated” and was “rude” to her.

Ms Bentley told the court: “About 6.30pm she heard loud knocking at her front door.

“The accused was shouting but, due to his high level of intoxication, she wouldn’t let him in.

“Hogg picked up a slab and smashed two windows of her Vauxhall Corsa.

“He then used a lighter to set fire to the driver’s seat, causing the car to become engulfed in flames.

“[The woman] shouted at him to put the fire out but he continued to be abusive and told her ‘You’re not treating me like a bam’.”

Firefighters attended and found significant damage to the car.

Hogg was traced to an address in Donaldson Street, Hamilton. He refused to let police officers in and used a washing machine to barricade the door, warning he would stab himself.

Ms Bentley added: “The officers tried to engage with him and eventually forced entry due to concerns for his welfare.

“They found him sitting at the top of the stairs, holding a screwdriver to his neck. They spoke to him and calmed him down.”

Defence lawyer Laura Kiernan said Hogg and his partner have two young children and she is supportive of him.

He had overcome a cocaine addiction but hadn’t managed to get his alcohol problem under control.

Ms Kiernan stated: “He did not take well to her refusing to let him into the house, but there is no excuse for his behaviour.

“He suffered childhood trauma and it has had a negative effect on his mental health.”

Hogg admitted a long list of previous convictions and Sheriff John Speir said, given his record and the nature of the charges, there was no alternative to a custodial sentence.

But the sheriff added: “You have pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and are entitled to a substantial discount.”

Hogg was jailed for 12 months, backdated to February 7 as he has been in custody since then.

The sheriff also imposed a one-year non-harassment order.

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