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azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3792

see BBC Scotland - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/4269808.stm

Former Labour MSP Mike Watson has been sentenced to 16 months in prison for starting a fire which endangered lives at an Edinburgh hotel last November.
Earlier this month, Lord Watson had admitted wilful fire-raising.

Passing sentence, Sheriff Kathrine Mackie said a social enquiry assessment had concluded there was a significant risk of Watson re-offending.

However, the sheriff reduced his sentence from 20 months to 16 because of his pre-trial guilty plea.

Lord Watson, 56, admitted setting fire to a curtain after a heavy drinking session at the Scottish Politician of the Year awards ceremony at the Prestonfield House Hotel last November.

The blaze caused £4,500 worth of damage.

He had initially denied he was responsible, despite CCTV footage showing him crouching down at the base of a curtain just minutes before it was engulfed in flames.

After pleading guilty at Edinburgh Sheriff Court at the beginning of September, he stepped down as an MSP and resigned as a director of Dundee United football club.

Sheriff Mackie said: "Fire-raising is a most serious crime.

"By pleading guilty to this charge you have acknowledged that you intended to set on fire property at Prestonfield House Hotel whereby property was damaged and lives were endangered.

"The potential for serious injury to guests and staff within the hotel, and for very significant damage to the property, was considerable."

No explanation

The sheriff said that it was due to the prompt action of staff that there was neither injury nor more significant damage.

She said there had been no explanation for his actions.

Watson was expected to be taken to Edinburgh prison.

He will then be transferred to a prison near his home in the next week.

Outside the court, Watson's spokesman said: "He just wants to say that his wife Clare has stood by him like a rock during a phenomenally difficult time and she continues to stand by him.

"He would also like to thank what he would term his true friends, who have really stood by him during this time."

The sentence was announced from the platform at the Scottish National Party annual conference in Aviemore following a debate about the House of Lords, and was met with a large cheer from delegates.

In a statement, a Labour spokesman said: "Mr Watson has been expelled from the Labour Party.

"His sentence illustrates that if you commit a serious crime in Scotland, no matter who you are, you must face the consequences. That is right."

Scottish Conservative home affairs spokeswoman and deputy leader Annabel Goldie said: "The sentence actually served will not be 16 months.

"Thanks to Labour and Lib Dem insistence of preserving automatic early release, Lord Watson will be out of jail after serving only half his sentence, eight months."

What an arsehole. Just your average Labour Minister.

_________________
"Every single person on this planet is unique. Just like everyone else..." - Random Guy in Edinburgh Pub

Possibly the funniest site in the world, 'The Daily Mash' - http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/

Alistair · Finding Ma' Way Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 13

A personal tragedy - not something anyone should gloat about or take pleasure in.

I knew Mike Watson when he was a fulltime official for ASTMS - he had a reputation then as a hardworking and enthusiastic worker - perhaps ambitious and perhaps hard on those he disagreed with - but by no means someone whose downfall I take any pleasure in.

I for one see a difference between this crime and the more traditional cheque falling into back pocket or job being lined up for pals - that is more usual amidst all parties in Scotland

azzuri · 'Our Scotland' Fossil Joined: 12 Sep 2005 Posts: 3792

Don't try and dress it up mate.

No one is gloating - but the guy deliberately set fire to a hotel which could've ended up in many lives lost.

I couldn't give a toss whether he was a hard worker or not - for this he deserves to go to jail, pure and simple.
_________________
"Every single person on this planet is unique. Just like everyone else..." - Random Guy in Edinburgh Pub

Possibly the funniest site in the world, 'The Daily Mash' - http://www.thedailymash.co.uk/

Alistair · Finding Ma' Way Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 13

There did seem to be some gloating among the SNP heid yins. I agree he deserves the same punishment as any other fire raiser. Given the paucity oftalent amidst the MSPs of all parties, however, I do thing the whole affair is a bit tragic, for both the individuals concerned and the country as a whole.

Still it doesgive the SNP a shot at a pretty easy by-election - which presumably inspired the happy reaction from the SNP heid yins

thetimeisnow · No Longer a Wean Joined: 15 Sep 2005 Posts: 91