A drunk caused a late night scare when he started a fire on the fourth floor of an East Kilbride tower block.
Christopher Smith, of Murray Square, admitted wilfully starting the blaze at Globe Court on November 5 or 6 last year.
Hamilton Sheriff Court heard this week how the 28-year-old started the fire by lighting rubbish in a chip pan that had been left outside a flat.
Earlier Smith, who had no connection with the 15-storey tower, was spotted lying sleeping in a common close on the fourth floor by a resident who tried to wake him.
Emergency services were called after a frightened mum in the tower block spotted smoke coming in under the door into her flat.
The court heard how she was forced to flee from the scene with her two children.
Vish Kathuria, prosecuting, said the incident happened around midnight adding that the young mum heard banging and the sound of a lighter being clicked.
He told the court: “She saw smoke coming through the door of her flat and also in the close.
“She was extremely concerned and contacted a friend who assisted her and her children to get out of the block.
“Firefighters attended and saw the accused staggering about on the third floor. He fell over a hose and was repeatedly told to leave because of the fire.”
Mr Kathuria told court how the fourth floor was “heavily smoke-logged” but, because the source of the fire had been identified and it was being put out, firefighters advised residents to stay in their flats and did not evacuate.
The blaze damaged a wall and floor, and there was “significant” smoke damage – thankfully, no one was injured.
Having left the scene, firebug Smith was later spotted by an ambulance crew as he walked along the A725 East Kilbride Expressway.
The driver of the ambulance had to stop in the fast lane because of Smith, before the crew assisted him.
Mr Kathuria added: “A short time later police arrived and officers noticed he was smelling strongly of smoke, he had soot on his hands and his trainers had melted.
“He was released at this point as officers didn’t know about the tower block fire, but about 3am he was traced to a homeless shelter in Blantyre where he was found to have a lighter in his possession.”
Defence agent Ian Scott told how his client had just completed community payback and restriction of liberty orders for another offence.
Sheriff Marie Smart deferred sentence until September 19 for background reports and agreed to continue bail.
