Remanded in custody after deliberate house fire

Two brothers have been remanded in custody after pleading guilty to deliberately starting a fire at a Kirkwall address when they knew there were two men inside the property.

Appearing at Kirkwall Sheriff Court today, Wednesday, Christopher Baird, 22, and twenty-year-old Graeme Baird had their sentences deferred for reports to July 16.

According to the charge, the accused stuffed the property’s letter box with litter and set fire to it on March 27, causing the door and door frame to catch fire and noxious fumes to spread throughout the house.

The court heard that the two men in the property at the time managed to escape via a ground floor window before the fire service attended.

Christopher Baird also admitted assaulting one of the men earlier in the day by punching him on the head to his injury.

Procurator fiscal Sue Foard said that the complainer owed money to Graeme Baird.

Both accused were on bail at the time of the offences.