Couple who set fire to ex-partner's flat which destroyed £2m building in Lochgelly jailed

Two fireraisers who started an inferno that led to the destruction of a £2m block of flats and endangered the lives of eight residents have been jailed for a total of almost ten years.

Jamie Morrison, 34, and Chloe Arnott, 31, who were in a relationship at the time, set the fire in Ms Arnott’s former partner’s empty top floor flat in the block in Lochgelly, Fife, then left without telling anyone what they’d done.

A judge praised a hero resident who was alerted by “loud cracking” and, despite his own terror, banged on the doors of every other flat in the three-storey block to alert his neighbours before fleeing to safety.

Morrison, who already had a criminal record for fire-raising, was jailed for 64 months and Arnott for 52 months.

The fire occurred at the council flats in Francis Street, Lochgelly, in October 2023.

Judge Fiona Tait told the pair: “You lit a piece of paper with a cigarette lighter and immediately left the building. You didn’t attempt to alert the residents to the fire.

“Fortunately an adjoining neighbour heard a loud crackling noise coming from the flat and after his wall became hot he realised there was a fire.

“Despite his panic and as a pane of glass in the door started to shatter he had the courage and presence of mind to knock on the doors of all of the flats to tell the occupants to leave.”

Judge Tait said there were 12 people living in the 12-flat block, and eight of them were present when the fire started.

She said: “By good fortune, no one was hurt.

“This was a serious offence to the danger of life of the occupants of the flats and resulted in significant cost.

“A custodial sentence is the only appropriate disposal.”

The wrecked building had to be torn down by Fife Council.

Morrison and Arnott, both of Glenrothes, appeared for sentencing at the High Court in Stirling after pleading guilty in July to wilful fire-raising to the endangerment of life.

The pair appeared at the High Court in Stirling. Scottish Courts and Tribunals Service

They had originally been charged with attempted murder.

The court heard the pair had started the fire in the top floor flat of Arnott’s former partner.

Prosecutor Brian Gill KC confirmed they were in a relationship at the time of the fire.

Arnott had been living with her former partner in his top floor flat on Francis Street – number 21 – until the couple split in 2023.

Morrison and Arnott spent the afternoon of October 23 that year drinking alcohol at a friend’s home in Lochgelly.

At about 6.20pm, they were spotted by a resident on the landing outside Arnott’s former partner’s flat.

Later, they were seen inside the flat, seemingly gathering together piles of clothing.

While inside, they lit a piece of paper using a cigarette lighter.

Jamie Morrison and Chloe Arnott Central Scotland News Agency

Solicitor-advocate Billy Lavelle, for Morrison, said: “He accepts he lit this piece of paper. He thought he had stamped on it to put it out. Clearly he was wrong and the consequences were serious. He wishes to apologise to the residents for what happened.”

Michael Anderson, KC, for Arnott, said his client had accepted part guilt for the fire raising.

He said: “The devastating consequences of the fire were not foreseen. Drug and alcohol addiction has dogged her life and this offence occurred when she was severely under the influence of addictive substances.”

The court heard multiple fire crews used height appliances to reach the flames on the top floor and worked through the night to deal with the blaze.

After the fire raising, Arnott and Morrison returned to their friend’s flat.

During the evening, Morrison confessed to lighting the paper but said he did not think the fire would engulf the building.

The pair were later arrested but refused to be interviewed.

They also refused to have their hands checked for traces of accelerants.

The court heard the cost for Fife Council to demolish the building was over £78,000.

There were further indirect costs for the local authority as a result of road closures and emergency gas work, and the cost of rebuilding has been put at £2.1 m.

Arnott and Morrison showed no emotion when the sentences were announced and they were led away to the cells.