A fire raiser told cops he torched a woman’s car in a revenge attack during an attempted murder trial, a court heard on Thursday.
David Clelland admitted setting fire to a vehicle belonging to Dawn Reilly while she was being held in jail.
Mother-of-six Reilly was detained after taking a photo of a witness inside the trial courtroom last August.
Her teenage son Kane and five others were later convicted of the horrific Hogmanay attack on victim Rhys Reynolds and originally jailed for a total of 47 years.
Dawn Reilly snapped Reynolds as he gave evidence and posted it on Facebook, branding him a “grass”.
Her car was set ablaze and after Clelland’s arrest he told officers: “Rhys Reynolds paid me £200 for it.”
Clelland, 38, appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court and pleaded guilty to wilfully setting fire to the car in Prestonpans, East Lothian, on August 19 last year.
Fiscal depute Anna Robertson told the court how Kane Reilly was on trial for attempted murder at the time of the incident.
His mother parked her car outside her home on August 14 before being held in custody for taking a photograph inside the High Court in Edinburgh that day. She was remanded until August 23, the court heard.
Ms Robertson said the vehicle was completely destroyed by flames and Dawn Reilly “provided a statement to police as to who she thought was responsible”.
She said police studied CCTV footage and traced Clelland who was wearing trainers similar to the fireraiser spotted in the security film.
Ms Robertson said Clelland admitted torching the car, adding Reynolds paid him to do it.
She added: “He was extremely forthcoming about why he set fire to the vehicle.”
Reynolds, 27, was set upon by the six-strong gang who repeatedly punched, kicked and stamped on him in Musselburgh, East Lothian. He was assaulted with knives and a pole and one attacker struck him with a rock or slab.
He suffered 36 injuries, including facial fractures and bleeding on the brain following the incident on December 31 2018.
During the trial, Reynolds reported to officers that Dawn Reilly had posted his picture on Facebook.
Police found the photograph under her name with the words ‘GRASS!!!!!!FOR ALL TO SEE!!!!!!RHYS REEKO REYNOLDS COURT GRASS’.
In February 43-year-old Reilly admitted committing a breach of the peace at the High Court trial by taking a photograph of Reynolds.
Kane Reilly, 19, was among four men convicted of attempted murder on August 26 last year. A fifth man admitted his role in the attempted murder and didn’t stand trial while another was convicted of assault.
Most had their prison sentences reduced on appeal, with Reilly’s cut from eight years to six.
Sheriff John Mundy deferred sentence on Clelland, of Cockenzie, East Lothian, until December for reports.
The Record made contact with Reynolds for comment last night but he did not respond.
