Arsonist live-streamed fire attack on Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court building on YouTube

An arsonist who live-streamed a fire attack on a court building on YouTube has been jailed for five years and four months.

Fayth Davidson, 22, poured fuel over a jacket laid at the entrance to Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court, in Fife, before igniting it in the early hours of February 6 last year.

Footage of the moment the fire took hold, with Davidson jumping away from flames, was shown to a judge at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Davidson, a prisoner at HMP Perth, previously admitted to wilfully setting fire to the Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court building, causing damage to the front door.

Lady Haldane said that Davidson would have faced a sentence of eight years imprisonment if she were sentencing for the crime following a trial.

The judge said there was agreement that it was “a very serious and disturbing case”.

The court heard that firefighters were quickly called to the scene of the blaze, which was extinguished, and a black fuel can was recovered.

Police discovered that a fuel can was purchased from a nearby Esso garage shortly before the offence was committed, and CCTV footage obtained from the premises identified Davidson as the buyer.

Advocate depute Christopher Wilson KC told the High Court that officers discovered that Davidson had been using social media.

The prosecutor said: “About 6.11am on the same date, Police Scotland received intelligence that the wilful fire raising to Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court had been live-streamed on YouTube under the title ‘Spinning Trolley’.”

“It was streamed by an account with the name of ‘FaythD’,” said the advocate depute.

During the footage, Davidson made a number of remarks, including “this building is a work of art” and “they don’t care. I’m not even getting a televised court case”.

Davidson added: “I’m here on Sky News and I am being caught red-handed.”

The accused was seen taking off a high viz jacket at the front door of the court and pouring petrol before flames erupted.

The court heard that Davidson was previously known as Joshua and has convictions for offences, including vandalism, wasting police time and breaching telecommunications legislation.

A man who was walking to work saw Davidson outside the closed sheriff court building and realised they were muttering, but could not hear what was being said.

Mr Wilson said: “He then saw the accused remove a lighter from a pocket, lean down towards the petrol-soaked jacket and ignite it.

“He immediately saw a large flame extend up the door of the building. The accused jumped back, picked up a backpack and ran,” said the prosecutor.

The witness was concerned that the fire could spread and made a call to the fire service at 4.51am.

Defence counsel Megan Davidson told the court: “Fayth Davidson appears to be a complex and troubled young person.”

She said there were underlying issues with alcohol and substance misuse, and Davidson had a number of difficulties.