Elgin woman placed cigarette packet inside car fuel cap and attempted to light it on fire
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A WOMAN from Elgin who attempted to set a car on fire by placing a lit cigarette packet in the vehicle's fuel cap has been sentenced to 12 months supervision.
Elgin Sheriff Court heard that Emma McKerron (35) refused to leave the home of a man who was with two friends on November 12, 2021.
One of the witnesses within the property eventually answered the door to McKerron at which point she is said to have lunged at them and engaged in a struggle.
Fiscal depute Naomi Duffy-Welsh told the court that the struggle concluded before one of the witnesses noticed McKerron acting suspiciously near a Ford Mondeo not long after.
The court heard that McKerron was trying to set "what appeared to be" a piece of paper on fire and was attempting to push it into the fuel cap of the vehicle.
Police arrived at the scene at around 7pm after the witness reported the incident.
After searching the car, officers removed a partially burned cigarette packet from the vehicle's fuel cap and subsequently arrested McKerron after she refused to desist.
She was later taken to Dr Gray's Hospital for treatment on pre-existing injuries to her legs but on removal of her handcuffs she flailed her arms, striking one of the officers in the process.
Defence solicitor Robert Cruickshank said that McKerron had been "very unwell" at the time and had limited memory of the incident although she accepted responsibility.
He asked Sheriff Eric Brown to consider the fact that McKerron had not been in trouble with the law since 2012 and that a social care report classed McKerron as 'vulnerable'.
He also handed Sheriff Brown a letter written by McKerron's mother outlining the "unfortunate break-up of the family unit" and the difficulties McKerron had with her mental health thereafter.
McKerron was convicted on charges of behaving in a threatening or abusive manner, wilfully attempting to light a car on fire and resisting a police constable.
Sheriff Brown sentenced McKerron to 12 months supervision.
