Tragedy was averted after fire in Motherwell tower block

Motherwell could have seen a tower block tragedy after a fire attack in a block whose residents include families and old folk.

Firefighters who raced to Airbles Tower late at night found that papers had been set alight and stuffed through a letterbox on the 10th floor. The apartment was filled with smoke, but fortunately the blaze didn't spread and disaster was averted.

Robert Paterson, 43, of nearby Freesia Court, was accused of wilful fireraising, but got a not proven verdict after trial at Hamilton Sheriff Court.

The fire happened on September 11, 2021.

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Prosecutors accused Paterson of causing damage to the flat, which was empty at the time, and endangering the lives of other tower residents including elderly people and young families. Paterson, a grandfather, denied any wrongdoing.

Crew Commander Fraser McNair, 41, said he and firefighter colleagues arrived at the tower block shortly after 10pm.

He told the jury: "I opened the letterbox and smoke issued out. I broke the lock and gained access to the flat. It was heavily smoke-logged inside and I saw paper in the letterbox that was smouldering. There were burn marks on the skirting and carpet, but the fire had burned itself out."

DC Stephen Rose, 32, said he viewed CCTV that showed a man he identified as Paterson going into the lift on the ground floor around 9.40pm. The male was wearing a blue hoodie and distinctive Adidas training shoes with orange stripes.

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Later he could be seen leaving the building and appeared to be nursing a scorch mark to his finger. DC Rose said he went to Paterson's home and recovered a blue hoodie from the washing machine. He also seized Adidas trainers and noticed that the accused had what appeared to be a burn mark to his finger.

Defence agent Scott Jones raised the quality of the CCTV with the detective.

He said: "It's not that great. It's very difficult to see the detail on the man's hand."

Paterson admitted being in the building at the time, but claimed he went to another flat.

The tenant of the fire-hit flat, Lawrence Cairns 51 said he had handed back the keys and was living elsewhere. When asked if he had started the fire, he said “No.”