Man who claimed Satan made him start housefire is sent to mental hospital

May 13 2010 Hamilton Advertiser

A MAN who firebombed a house in broad daylight and claimed Satan made him do it was last week sent to a mental hospital under a compulsion order.

The High Court in Glasgow heard that 58-year-old George Johnstone armed himself with a hammer and petrol-filled jars before targeting a house in Burnhead Street, Viewpark, on August 23 last year.

Firstly, Johnstone set fire to a car parked in the driveway before smashing the double-glazed windows with the hammer and lobbing the petrol bombs into the living room.

George Martin (28) and his girlfriend Jillian McLean, who were inside the house, heard Johnstone shouting: “I'm going to f***ing kill you.”

Prosecutor Paul Kearney said: “The incident took place at 12.30pm. Mr Martin noticed the accused, who was the son of friends of Mr Martin's parents, standing outside the house.

“After a minute, he wondered why the accused hadn't knocked and looked out to see his girlfriend's car ablaze.

“The accused had a hammer in his hand. He smashed through the double glazing and threw a home-made petrol bomb, followed by three or four others.”

The court was told that Mr Martin managed to throw the first petrol bomb out into the back garden but suffered minor burns to his hands. When he returned, there were three or four areas of the living room on fire.

The accused then threw petrol over Mr Martin and tried to light it but his lighter wouldn't work.

Mr Keaney said: “When the police arrived, Mr Johnstone was asked to put down the hammer and he told them: 'The Devil made me do it. The Devil told me to do it at 2am. God told me not to. That's why I did it during the day.' ”

In court, Johnstone admitted assaulting Mr Martin and Ms McLean to the danger of their lives .

He was originally charged with attempted murder, but the Crown accepted his plea to the reduced charge.

Johnstone also pleaded guilty to wilfully setting fire to the house at 120 Burnhead Street and the car.

The court was told that Mr Martin and Ms McLean were extremely upset by the incident.

Two doctors said that Johnstone was fit to plead and had not been insane at the time.

Judge Lord Turnbull placed Johnstone on a compulsion order and ordered him to be detained at the Rowanbank Clinic in Glasgow.

Psychiatrists will determine when he is fit to be released.

Defence counsel advocate Tony Graham said: “This is a man who has offended as a direct result of a psychiatric illness.

“Mr Johnstone will require ongoing psychiatric care.”