SNS GroupA serial criminal who tried to kill a woman after starting a fire at her home is back behind bars.
Darren Monaghan, 35, sparked the blaze at the flat in Stirling before neighbours heard her cries for help and came to her rescue.
The pair had had a fall-out days before the crime.
Monaghan went on to send a number of texts, which the woman ignored.
Prosecutor Michelle Branagan told the High Court in Glasgow that “matters took a different tone” when he telephoned the victim on December 19, 2025.
She added: “Monaghan was shouting and swearing at her. He demanded that he wanted his clothes and other items.
“She was upset, particularly when he said: ‘Be up shortly, if you do not answer, the door is going in’.”
Monaghan followed with another angry message.
He stated: “The Glasgow boys are f***ing raging. They are coming to see you soon. See all your clothes, everything that you have, I am putting it in a pile and setting fire to them’.”
The woman immediately alerted police.
Ms Branagan said: “As soon as she ended the call, she went into the hall and could smell smoke.
“She barricaded the front door with a toy box. She then closed the living room door and went to a bedroom at the back of the flat.
“She barricaded herself in with a couch across the door.”
This time, the panicked woman dialled 999.
She was heard to shout: “Darren, you cannot do this to me.”
Other residents became aware of the blaze. One started to kick the front door in to help, while another raced to get buckets of water.
The victim was eventually helped out, along with her dog.
Monaghan, also of Stirling, was soon arrested.
A probe found the woman’s doormat found to be saturated with an accelerant. The front door had been fire-damaged.
Ms Branagan said there had been “a clear danger” to the victim’s life.
Monaghan – who had been on two bail orders at the time – appeared in the dock to plead guilty to an attempted murder charge.
He remains in custody as sentencing was deferred for reports.
Lord Cubie told him: “You have pled guilty to a very serious charge.
“It is clear that some degree of planning was involved with the use of accelerant.
“While the woman did not suffer any physical injury that was not due to any restraint on your part or steps taken by you.
“She was plainly terrified, taking steps to barricade herself into the flat.
“It was through the work of neighbours and emergency services that matters did not become more serious.”
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